Telecommunications

  • August 22, 2024

    Altice Will Pay $96K To End FCC Probe Over Outages

    New York-based telecom Altice admitted to running afoul of outage reporting rules in a settlement with the Federal Communications Commission Thursday, agreeing to pay a $96,000 fine after filing mandatory service disruption reports late last year.

  • August 22, 2024

    6th Circ. Can't Say If Mich. Official Can Block Facebook Critic

    The Sixth Circuit can't apply the U.S. Supreme Court's new state-action test to decide if a city manager in Michigan is allowed to block critics from his personal Facebook page because it needs more information, the appellate court said, kicking the matter back to district court.

  • August 22, 2024

    USPTO Tells High Court To Skip Double-Patenting Fight

    The U.S. patent office told the U.S. Supreme Court that fears stoked by a patent licensing outfit complaining about current Federal Circuit jurisprudence surrounding "obviousness-type double patenting" has already been resolved by a different ruling by the same court earlier this month.

  • August 22, 2024

    Ex-Avaya Execs Snag Early Exit From Investor Suits In NC

    Three former executives at telecom giant Avaya Inc. have escaped separate lawsuits in the North Carolina Business Court accusing them of painting an inaccurately rosy picture for investors before finances tanked and the company was forced to declare bankruptcy.

  • August 22, 2024

    Voter Claims NC 'Ballot Selfie' Laws Violate Free Speech

    A North Carolina voter hopes to take down the state's so-called ballot selfie laws, which make it illegal to take a photo with a completed ballot, arguing in a new federal lawsuit filed Thursday that the statutes trample her free speech rights.

  • August 22, 2024

    Telephone Cos. Want In On Tribal Broadband Grant Row

    The two Alaskan telecoms that received the U.S. Department of Agriculture grants now at the center of a suit from local tribes say they want in on the litigation, telling an Alaska federal judge that they should get a chance to defend their grants alongside the USDA as intervenors.

  • August 22, 2024

    Borrowed Claims Revived In CenturyLink Merger Suit

    A Colorado Court of Appeals panel said Thursday that attorneys can borrow confidential witness statements from other lawsuits without speaking to the witnesses as long as they take other investigatory steps, reinstating a shareholder suit against CenturyLink.

  • August 21, 2024

    Legal, Policy Orgs Urge Justices To Toss FCA Interpretation

    Two groups are defending AT&T subsidiary Wisconsin Bell Inc. in its challenge to the use of the False Claims Act for E-Rate program reimbursement fraud, telling the Supreme Court in amicus briefs Tuesday that the Seventh Circuit's ruling in the case would make the FCA's qui tam powers too expansive.

  • August 21, 2024

    Telecom Will Pay $1M For Carrying Biden Deepfake Robocalls

    Lingo Telecom will pay the FCC $1 million for not properly validating the caller ID information of a Democratic consultant who used a deepfake of President Joe Biden's voice to make robocalls urging voters not to participate in the New Hampshire primary, the commission announced Wednesday.

  • August 21, 2024

    AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile Accused Of Blocking Wi-Fi Calling

    A patent-holding company said Wednesday it has filed a lawsuit accusing AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Deutsche Telekom of blocking the emergence of a market for Wi-Fi calling by tying the service to voice and text offerings.

  • August 21, 2024

    NC Biz Court Bulletin: Wrinkle In Textile Family's $17M Fight

    The fate of a $17 million trust battled over by its trustees and Atrium Health, as well as attorney fees in a $1.1 million data breach settlement were cemented by the North Carolina Business Court in the first half of August. In case you missed those and others, here are the highlights.

  • August 21, 2024

    Mich. Families Drop Virtual Jail Visit Suit Against Telecom

    Families of inmates in the St. Clair County Jail have dropped their claims against a jail telecommunication provider after a Michigan state judge ruled that the families' constitutional rights were not violated by the jail's decision to replace in-person visitation with video calling.

  • August 21, 2024

    Justices Urged To Take Up 9th Circ. $1.3B Award Suit

    The corporate arm of India's space agency is trying to downplay how big of a circuit split the Ninth Circuit created when it ruled it had no jurisdiction over a $1.3 billion arbitral award, but the company's attempts are "unconvincing," an Indian satellite telecom has told the U.S. Supreme Court.

  • August 21, 2024

    Chamberlain Hrdlicka Can't Nix $700K Award To Consultant

    A Lone Star State appellate court has sided with a cost-cutting consulting firm in preserving a $700,000 judgment it was awarded following a 2022 jury trial against Chamberlain Hrdlicka White Williams & Aughtry, rejecting the law firm's argument that its liability was limited to a far lower amount under their contract.

  • August 20, 2024

    OnePlus Gets Do-Over For 'Excessive' $10M Pantech Verdict

    Chinese phone company OnePlus can have a new trial on damages after it was hit with a $10 million infringement verdict in Pantech Corp.'s patent dispute over technology used to comply with 5G wireless standards, a Texas federal judge ruled, saying, "There is no question this verdict is excessive."

  • August 20, 2024

    9th Circ. Revives Google Chrome Users' Data Privacy Suit

    The Ninth Circuit on Tuesday reversed the dismissal of a proposed class action accusing Google of surreptitiously collecting Chrome users' data, finding that the lower court had relied on the incorrect standard in determining whether a "reasonable" consumer would think they had consented to the disputed practice.

  • August 20, 2024

    FCC Urged To Boost Middle-Mile Support For Alaska Telecoms

    Alaskan telecoms are telling the Federal Communications Commission that their state needs special rules for middle-mile support, saying that Alaska's short construction season, roadless areas and other unique challenges mean that more support will be needed to achieve widespread connectivity.

  • August 20, 2024

    Don't Nix 'Band Manager' Approach In 4.9 GHz, FCC Told

    Public interest groups have urged the Federal Communications Commission to preserve its original plan to use a national band manager to oversee a 4.9 gigahertz spectrum revamp rather than turning it over to FirstNet through a nationwide license.

  • August 20, 2024

    USDOT Floats Vehicle-To-Everything Deployment Plan

    The U.S. Department of Transportation is setting out an aspirational timeline for vehicle-to-everything infrastructure deployment, saying it wants to see the technology deployed on 50% of the nation's highways by 2031.

  • August 20, 2024

    Apple Says iCloud Monopoly Suit Can't Stay Afloat

    Apple has told a California federal judge that it's time to boot a proposed class action that accuses it of flouting federal antitrust laws by blocking third-party cloud storage services from accessing and storing certain files on its smartphones.

  • August 20, 2024

    Cox, Music Publishers Ask Justices To Review Copyright Row

    Cox Communications and music publishers led by Sony Music Entertainment have petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review a Fourth Circuit ruling — with music companies asking for clarity on the scope of liability for internet service providers for online piracy and Cox asking whether it can be responsible for copyright infringement for merely providing an internet connection.

  • August 20, 2024

    FCC Says No To 8 Nonprofit Stations In Texas

    The Federal Communications Commission says it is not approving eight applications for new low power FM stations because the Christian entities that applied for them appear to actually all be part of the same organization, which does not qualify as an educational nonprofit.

  • August 20, 2024

    Verizon Customer Says Stalker Got Her Info, Arrived With Knife

    A Verizon Communications Inc. customer alleges in a North Carolina federal court complaint that the telecom violated federal privacy law when it gave her private information to a stalker who was threatening to kill her, allowing him to arrive at her house with a knife.

  • August 20, 2024

    Fed. Circ. Flips Samsung's Win In 'Slide To Unlock' Patent Suit

    The Federal Circuit on Tuesday revived part of a small smartphone company's patent suit against Samsung over its "swipe to unlock" feature, saying that one of Neonode Smartphone's core patent claims was more definite in its scope than the lower court gave it credit for.

  • August 20, 2024

    FCC Can't Subsidize Off-Campus Wi-Fi, Think Tank Argues

    A free-market group criticized the Federal Communications Commission's new program to subsidize Wi-Fi service for schools and libraries, saying it is not just a dubious policy choice but breaks with the statutory limits that Congress set for the E-Rate program.

Expert Analysis

  • Series

    Competing In Dressage Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    My lifelong participation in the sport of dressage — often called ballet on horses — has proven that several skills developed through training and competition are transferable to legal work, especially the ability to harness focus, persistence and versatility when negotiating a deal, says Stephanie Coco at V&E.

  • Considering A Practical FRAND Rate Assessment Procedure

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    As the debate over a fair, reasonable and nondiscriminatory rate continues inside and outside courtrooms, a practical method may assess whether the proposed FRAND rate deviates significantly from what is reasonable, and ensure an optimal mix of assets for managers of standard-essential patent portfolios, says consultant Gordon Huang.

  • A Close Look At The FCC's Revised SIM Card Fraud Rules

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    Carolyn Mahoney and John Seiver at Davis Wright break down recently proposed revisions to the Federal Communications Commission's customer proprietary network information and local number portability rules for wireless providers, discuss the revisions' implications on artificial intelligence regulation, and provide tips to prevent SIM swap and port-out fraud.

  • What Retailers Should Note In Calif. Web Tracking Suits

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    As retailers face a deluge of class actions alleging the use of conventional web analytic tools violate wiretapping and eavesdropping provisions of the California Invasion of Privacy Act, uncovering the path toward a narrow interpretation of the law will largely depend on how these cases proceed, say Matthew Pearson and Kareem Salem at BakerHostetler.

  • The Legal Industry Needs A Cybersecurity Paradigm Shift

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    As law firms face ever-increasing risks of cyberattacks and ransomware incidents, the legal industry must implement robust cybersecurity measures and privacy-centric practices to preserve attorney-client privilege, safeguard client trust and uphold the profession’s integrity, says Ryan Paterson at Unplugged.

  • 5 Reasons Associates Shouldn't Take A Job Just For Money

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    As a number of BigLaw firms increase salary scales for early-career attorneys, law students and lateral associates considering new job offers should weigh several key factors that may matter more than financial compensation, say Albert Tawil at Lateral Hub and Ruvin Levavi at Power Forward.

  • Series

    Playing Competitive Tennis Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    My experience playing competitive tennis has highlighted why prioritizing exercise and stress relief, maintaining perspective under pressure, and supporting colleagues in pursuit of a common goal are all key aspects of championing a successful legal career, says Madhumita Datta at Lowenstein Sandler.

  • Series

    The Pop Culture Docket: Judge Djerassi On Super Bowl 52

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    Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Ramy Djerassi discusses how Super Bowl 52, in which the Philadelphia Eagles prevailed over the New England Patriots, provides an apt metaphor for alternative dispute resolution processes in commercial business cases.

  • Employee Experience Strategy Can Boost Law Firm Success

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    Amid continuing business uncertainty, law firms should consider adopting a holistic employee experience strategy — prioritizing consistency, targeting signature moments and leveraging measurement tools — to maximize productivity and profitability, says Haley Revel at Calibrate Consulting.

  • What Cos. Can Learn From 2023 Export Enforcement Report

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    A January report summarizing key actions and policy changes undertaken at the Office of Export Enforcement in 2023 is a valuable indicator of future government priorities and the factors companies should consider as they conduct export operations amid what may be a turbulent international trading environment in 2024, says Thaddeus McBride at Bass Berry.

  • How Consumer Product Cos. Can Keep Up With Class Actions

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    Recent cases show California's federal courts and the Ninth Circuit remain the preferred arena for consumers pursuing false advertising and trade deception claims against companies — so manufacturers, distributors and retailers of consumer products should continue to watch these courts for guidance on how to fight class actions, say attorneys at Dechert.

  • Series

    Competing In Triathlons Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    While practicing law and competing in long-distance triathlons can make work and life feel unbalanced at times, participating in the sport has revealed important lessons about versatility, self-care and perseverance that apply to the office as much as they do the racecourse, says Laura Heusel at Butler Snow.

  • Mitigating Compliance And Litigation Risks Of Evolving Tech

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    Amid artificial intelligence and other technological advances, companies must prepare for the associated risks, including a growing suite of privacy regulations, enterprising class action theories and consumer protection challenges, and proliferating disclosure obligations, say attorneys at Eversheds Sutherland.

  • Where Justices Stand On Chevron Doctrine Post-Argument

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    Following recent oral argument at the U.S. Supreme Court, at least four justices appear to be in favor of overturning the long-standing Chevron deference, and three justices seem ready to uphold it, which means the ultimate decision may rest on Chief Justice John Roberts' vote, say Wayne D'Angelo and Zachary Lee at Kelley Drye.

  • Perspectives

    6 Practice Pointers For Pro Bono Immigration Practice

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    An attorney taking on their first pro bono immigration matter may find the law and procedures beguiling, but understanding key deadlines, the significance of individual immigration judges' rules and specialized aspects of the practice can help avoid common missteps, says Steven Malm at Haynes Boone.

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