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Russell H. Fox

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[email protected]

+1.202.434.7483

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Russell is among the most experienced wireless communications attorneys in the country. Unique among his peers, Russell assists clients on federal legislative, regulatory, and transactional matters. He analyzes legislation on behalf of clients, participates in proceedings before the FCC and other federal agencies, negotiates spectrum agreements, and represents wireless providers in spectrum auctions. He is also frequently consulted on matters involving US spectrum use and policy.

Whether they are in the middle of a transaction with difficult regulatory issues, working with Congress on legislative drafting, or securing critical operational authority, clients value Russell’s accessibility and ability to find creative solutions. He works with major telecommunications providers, trade associations, equipment manufacturers, public safety organizations, and entrepreneurs proposing new products or services.

Russell provides advice to all participants in the robocall/robotext ecosystem. He assists those that make calls, such as health care providers, utilities and vendors on how to structure messaging campaign. He also provides guidance on the appropriate wording for terms and conditions accepted by call recipients. He also counsels communications providers on call handling, including call blocking obligations.

Before joining the firm, Russell was a partner and head of the telecommunications department in the Washington office of a major Chicago-based law firm, where he represented users and providers of telecommunications services and equipment. Previously, he was the executive director and president of the American SMR Network Association, Inc., where he established offices of a national trade association representing a segment of the wireless telecommunications industry.

Russell is among the most experienced wireless communications attorneys in the country. Unique among his peers, Russell assists clients on federal legislative, regulatory, and transactional matters. He analyzes legislation on behalf of clients, participates in proceedings before the FCC and other federal agencies, negotiates spectrum agreements, and represents wireless providers in spectrum auctions. He is also frequently consulted on matters involving US spectrum use and policy.

Experience

Transactions

  • Represented Straight Path Communications, as it entered into a historic Consent Decree with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in its merger with Verizon Communications Inc. The Consent Decree permitted Straight Path to retain its most high-value FCC licenses in the face of an FCC investigation into potential rule violations. As a result of the Consent Decree, Straight Path was able to enter into an agreement with Verizon for $3.1 billion in value.

Legislative

  • Advised CTIA, the national wireless trade association in the eventual adoption of the TRACED Act, which mandates that communications providers take actions to prevent illegal robocalls.

FCC Regulation

  • Serve as primary outside counsel to Wi-Fi Alliance on FCC regulatory matters. Help spearhead efforts to make an additional 1200 megahertz of spectrum available for Wi-Fi, a significant increase in spectrum capacity.
  • Assisted Trimble Inc., a major manufacturer of GPS equipment, challenge grant of a license to an entity that proposes a service in adjacent frequency spectrum that would threaten the reception of GPS signals.
  • Successfully negotiated a consent decree with the FCC under which Radwin, a manufacturer of advanced telecommunications equipment, was able to pay a modest forfeiture penalty and implement a compliance program. Radwin marketed equipment in the U.S. in a manner inconsistent with the FCC's rules.
  • Assisted T-Mobile in urging the adoption of rules governing the so-called "C-band" which was subsequently auctioned and generated more revenues than any other FCC auction.
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viewpoints

Technology, Communications & Media Thumbnail

Read about a recent FCC Order directing over 2,000 telecommunications service providers to cure deficiencies in each of their Robocall Mitigation Database (RMD) certifications and robocall mitigation plans and Chairwoman Rosenworcel’s announcement about a draft Report and Order proposing to change RMD filing requirement rules to promote increased diligence and accountability.

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Technology, Communications & Media Thumbnail

Read about a recent FCC Order directing over 2,000 telecommunications service providers to cure deficiencies in each of their Robocall Mitigation Database (RMD) certifications and robocall mitigation plans, a draft Report and Order proposing to change RMD filing requirement rules, an appeal sent to the Fourth Circuit about whether the disclosure requirements under the E-SIGN Act apply to the TCPA, and a Georgia federal court’s decision to stay a case in light of a pending Supreme Court case likely to provide further guidance on the limits of agency rulings.

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Read about an FCC Report and Order authorizing originating, intermediate, and gateway telecommunications service providers to engage third parties to perform the technological act of “signing” calls on their behalf consistent with the technical requirements of the STIR/SHAKEN standards. 

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This month’s newsletter covers an FCC Report and Order authorizing many telecommunications service providers to use third parties to “sign” calls on their behalf consistent with STIR/SHAKEN’s technical requirements. It also discusses a California federal court’s summary judgment decision in Williams v. DDR Media, LLC, which sent a message that compliance tools that prioritize privacy and operate without substantive interpretation of communications are not wiretapping consumers under the California Invasion of Privacy Act.

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Read about FCC compliance rules concerning consumer requests to revoke consent for calls and texts under the TCPA, FCC Enforcement Bureau actions aimed at stopping the transmission of illegal robocall traffic over gateway provider Identidad Advertising Development LLC’s network, and a pending Supreme Court case that raises the issue of whether the Hobbs Act required a district court to accept the FCC’s interpretation of the TCPA as it pertains to faxes received by email. 

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Read about FCC compliance rules concerning consumer requests to revoke consent for calls and texts under the TCPA and FCC Enforcement Bureau actions aimed at stopping the transmission of illegal robocall traffic over gateway provider Identidad Advertising Development LLC’s network.

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Read about an FCC Report and Order commissioners will vote on individually that encompasses two other pending orders related to call-blocking, text-message blocking, and making e-mail-to-text an opt-in service. This month’s newsletter also covers a Florida federal court’s dismissal of a TCPA class action involving a text message and multiple calls stemming from the plaintiff’s disclosure of her phone number during a store survey.

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Read about an FCC Report and Order commissioners will vote on individually that encompasses two other pending orders related to call-blocking, text-message blocking, and making e-mail-to-text an opt-in service. As drafted, the order declines to impose several call and text blocking requirements.

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Read about the FCC’s adoption of a Notice of Apparent Liability against voice service provider Lingo Telecom, a proposed FCC rulemaking focused on AI-generated robocalls and robotexts, and its Notice of Inquiry seeking comment on protecting privacy in connection with calls made using AI technologies.

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Read about the FCC’s adoption of a Notice of Apparent Liability against voice service provider Lingo Telecom, its proposed rulemaking focused on AI-generated robocalls and robotexts, and its Notice of Inquiry seeking comment on protecting privacy in connection with calls made using AI technologies, plus a Texas federal court decision that provides guidance on when a call or text message qualifies as telemarketing and requires heightened consent.

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News & Press

Press Release Thumbnail Mintz

Mintz represented T-Mobile before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) related to the company’s provision of supplemental coverage from space (SCS) in cooperation with its partner in this venture – SpaceX. The new service will give T-Mobile customers the ability to communicate in areas where there is no traditional cell phone coverage. 

Press Release Thumbnail Mintz

187 Mintz attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers® in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Notably, three Mintz attorneys received 2025 “Lawyer of the Year” awards, and 64 firm attorneys were included in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.

Press Release Thumbnail Mintz

Mintz is pleased to announce that 120 firm attorneys have been recognized as leaders by Best Lawyers® in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.

Press Release Thumbnail Mintz

BOSTON – Mintz has earned top rankings in the 2023 edition of Legal 500 United States guide. The firm is recognized in 14 practice categories, and 59 individual attorneys are also recognized in the guide, some in more than one category.

Press Release Thumbnail Mintz

Best Lawyers® recognized 108 firm attorneys in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Notably, two Mintz attorneys – Poonam Patidar and Scott M. Stanton – received 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” awards, and 28 firm attorneys were included in the inaugural edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.

Press Release Thumbnail Mintz
In the latest guide, Mintz garnered rankings as a top national firm in eight practice areas, and 32 firm attorneys were individually recognized.
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Events & Speaking

Speaker
Feb
28
2019

Five Steps to 5G: Prepping for the Next Generation

3580 Carmel Mountain Road, Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92130

Speaker
Apr
13
2016

Broadband and Cable Industry Law 2016

Practising Law Institute (PLI)

Webinar

Speaker
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Russell is among the most experienced wireless communications attorneys in the country. Unique among his peers, Russell assists clients on federal legislative, regulatory, and transactional matters. He analyzes legislation on behalf of clients, participates in proceedings before the FCC and other federal agencies, negotiates spectrum agreements, and represents wireless providers in spectrum auctions. He is also frequently consulted on matters involving US spectrum use and policy.

Recognition & Awards

  • Recommended by the Legal 500 United States for Telecom & Broadcast: Regulatory (2017 – 2023)

  • Best Lawyers in America: Communications Law (2019 – 2025)

  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent

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Russell is among the most experienced wireless communications attorneys in the country. Unique among his peers, Russell assists clients on federal legislative, regulatory, and transactional matters. He analyzes legislation on behalf of clients, participates in proceedings before the FCC and other federal agencies, negotiates spectrum agreements, and represents wireless providers in spectrum auctions. He is also frequently consulted on matters involving US spectrum use and policy.

Involvement

  • Member, Federal Communications Bar Association
  • Fellow, Radio Club of America
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