J.G. Harrington

J.G. has worked with telephone, mobile communications, new technologies and cable television clients on federal and state regulatory issues for more than 35 years, and he regularly works with other clients to address issues that arise in their interactions with service providers and regulators. 

J.G. has particular experience in regulatory issues affecting new technologies, broadband services, privacy, public safety, universal service and telecommunications competition. Before joining Cooley, J.G. was a member of a leading communications law firm in Washington, DC.

Throughout his career, J.G. has been involved in key developments in communications-related businesses – including the first Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval of a frequency-hopping spread-spectrum device, opening up local telephone markets to competition, development of high-speed internet access services, and many of the most significant transactions in the telecommunications industry. J.G. advises startups and growth-phase and mature companies across all of the sectors touched by the regulation of communications services and technologies, as well as lenders and investors. J.G.’s practice is built on developing a deep understanding of the client’s needs in the context of regulatory and business challenges – whether the issue is offering a new product or service, compliance with a new regulation, entry into a new market or responding to competition.

J.G.’s representative matters include:

• Foreign investment in communications businesses – Represented Apollo Global Management and SoftBank before the FCC and Team Telecom to obtain approval of foreign ownership of FCC-regulated businesses
• Space – Represented a space venture in obtaining first-of-its kind approval for use of electronic devices in orbit
• Compliance and enforcement – Represented a national hospitality company in the investigation, remediation and negotiation of a consent decree with the FCC for violation of the FCC’s transfer of control rules
• Commercial agreements – Negotiated agreements for provision of back-end and connectivity functions for voice and broadband services
• Transactions – Developed regulatory strategies for acquisitions of telecommunications businesses
• Commercial agreements – Negotiated agreements between large users and telecommunications service providers
• Universal service – Executed applications for federal support for communications services in rural markets
• Telephone competition – Worked on the first FCC-adjudicated interconnection arbitration under the Telecommunications Act of 1996
• Financings – Represented cable companies in connection with regulatory disclosures and related matters for bank financings and debt offerings