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.
viewpoints
Monthly TCPA Digest — June 2022
June 29, 2022 | Article | By Russell Fox, Jonathan P. Garvin, Matthew Novian
Our TCPA newsletter covers an FCC Public Notice reminding non-facilities-based small voice providers with 100,000 or fewer voice lines of the June 30 deadline for implementing STIR/SHAKEN caller ID technology, plus Oklahoma and other state legislation to restrict telephonic sales calls in the wake of the US Supreme Court’s Facebook decision limiting the application of the TCPA.
TCPA Regulatory Update — FCC Reminds Small Providers of STIR/SHAKEN Deadline
June 29, 2022 | Article | By Russell Fox, Jonathan P. Garvin
The FCC issued a Public Notice reminding non-facilities-based small voice providers with 100,000 or fewer voice lines of the June 30 deadline for implementing STIR/SHAKEN caller ID technology and a related deadline for updating the Robocall Mitigation Database.
Remote-Controlled Robotics
June 15, 2022 | Blog | By Russell Fox, Christen B'anca Glenn
Monthly TCPA Digest — May 2022
May 31, 2022 | Article | By Russell Fox, Jonathan P. Garvin
Our TCPA digest discusses the FCC’s adoption of new obligations for certain U.S.-based voice service providers that accept foreign-originated calls with U.S. numbers before transmitting the calls to another U.S.-based provider and proposed FCC rule changes to combat robocalling.
TCPA Regulatory Update — Commission Adopts New Rules for “Gateway Providers”
May 31, 2022 | Article | By Russell Fox, Jonathan P. Garvin
The FCC adopted new obligations for certain U.S.-based voice service providers that accept foreign-originated calls with U.S. numbers before transmitting the calls to another U.S.-based provider and proposed FCC rule changes to combat robocalling.
TCPA Regulatory Update — FCC Partners with More States, Sends More Cease & Desist Letters, Clarifies Safe Harbors, and Responds to Congressional Queries
April 25, 2022 | Article | By Russell Fox, Jonathan P. Garvin
The FCC expands its robocalling investigation partnerships, sends cease-and-desist letters to additional companies, issues clarifications regarding the RND, and discusses its efforts to combat scam calls.
Monthly TCPA Digest — April 2022
April 25, 2022 | Article | By Russell Fox, Joshua Briones, Jonathan P. Garvin, Crystal Lopez
Our TCPA newsletter discusses the FCC’s growing partnerships with states to combat robocalls, the latest cease-and-desist letters, FCC clarifications regarding the RND, and the Eighth Circuit’s ruling in Beal v. Outfield Brew House.
TCPA Regulatory Update — FCC Announces New State-Federal Partnerships to Combat Robocalls
March 21, 2022 | Article | By Russell Fox, Jonathan P. Garvin
Read about the FCC’s increased collaboration with states to combat robocalling, including investigatory partnerships with four states and agreements between the Commission’s Enforcement Bureau and the state attorneys general of Colorado and Vermont.
TCPA Regulatory Update — FCC Enforcement Bureau Proposes Record Fine Against Robocaller
March 21, 2022 | Article | By Russell Fox, Jonathan P. Garvin
Read about the FCC Enforcement Bureau’s proposed record fine of $45 million, which would be issued against a Florida-based company for alleged robocalls advertising that states’ health insurance open enrollment periods had been reopened due to COVID-19.
Monthly TCPA Digest — March 2022
March 21, 2022 | Article | By Russell Fox, Joshua Briones, Jonathan P. Garvin, Esteban Morales
Our TCPA newsletter discusses the FCC’s increased collaboration with states to combat robocalling and its proposed record fine of $45 million for health care–alleged robocalls and a District of Maryland dismissal of a TCPA case concerning a fax about a free webinar.
News & Press
The Best Lawyers in America 2025 Recognizes 184 Mintz Attorneys across 56 Practice Areas
August 15, 2024
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.
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©.
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.
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.
Mintz Practice Groups and Attorneys Garner Top Rankings in 2020 Edition of The Legal 500 United States
June 12, 2020
Mintz Attorney Russell H. Fox to Speak at 2013 mHealth Summit
December 09, 2013
Events & Speaking
Robocalling and Robotexts: What Consent is Necessary and Recent Changes in FCC Regulation
MyLawCLE
Virtual Event
Five Steps to 5G: Prepping for the Next Generation
3580 Carmel Mountain Road, Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92130
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
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
