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2022

2021

Teams from across the country competed virtually before experienced communications and technology law practitioners and addressed current topics in communications and technology law. This year's problem focused specifically on contact tracing and data collection in a telecommunications setting.

2018

May 24, 2018 The Institutes and Special Programs Certificate Ceremony, held on May 24, in the Rev. William J. Byron S.J. Auditorium, invited graduates of the four certificate-issuing Institutes, as well as their guests, to celebrate their achievements.

Certification from these Institutes — the Comparative and International Law Program, the Law and Public Policy Program, the Law and Technology Institute, and the Securities Law Program — endorses the student as a graduate who offers employers a level of subject mastery that is significantly beyond that which may be learned in the general J.D. curriculum.

March 24, 2018 The Journal of Law and Technology’s annual symposium, “Repeal of The Open Internet Order of 2015: A Discussion on a Dynamic Internet and the Legal Road Ahead,” provided an opportunity for students, faculty, and practitioners to hear from experts about the positives and negatives of regulating broadband Internet service providers and the economic, social, and political effects of the new rules.

The March 16 event opened with introductory remarks by Catholic Law Professor Elizabeth Winston. The program consisted of a panel discussion and a keynote speech from Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission.

March 19, 2018
Dean William Callyhan Robinson Intellectual Property Lecture Series - Toke Vandervoort, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel to Under Armour, and Douglas A. Rettew, Partner at Finnegan, give presentation on Maintaining a Conversation with the Consumer, While Protecting the Brand: A Discussion with Under Armour.

January 22, 2018
Co-Directors Professor Megan La Belle and Professor Elizabeth Winston gather with program alumni for the annual Law and Technology State of the Institute Luncheon at Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP. Professor La Belle and Professor Winston report on plans for the rest of the academic year and beyond and address alumni questions. Alumni who were not able to attend the meeting were able to participate via conference call. Brendan Carr '05.

2017
 

June 28, 2017
Catholic Law Alumnus nominated to be an FCC Commissioner The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law alumnus Brendan Carr '05 has been nominated by President Trump to be an FCC Commissioner. Below is a release from FCC Chairman Pai, a statement from NAB President & CEO Gordon Smith, and an article from POLITICO about the nomination:

CHAIRMAN PAI STATEMENT ON THE PRESIDENT’S INTENT TO NOMINATE BRENDAN CARR FOR FCC COMMISSIONER

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai issued the following statement after the President’s announcement tonight that he intends to nominate Brendan Carr to be an FCC Commissioner:

“I congratulate Brendan Carr on the President’s announcement that he will be nominated to serve as an FCC Commissioner. Brendan has a distinguished record of public service, having worked at the agency for over five years, including most recently as the FCC’s General Counsel. In particular, Brendan’s expertise on wireless policy and public safety will be a tremendous asset to the Commission. I look forward to working with him in his new role and wish him all the best during the confirmation process.”

May 25, 2017 LTIAA Presents “ Pay It Forward” Award to Rachel Bender '10 The Law and Technology Institute Alumni Association (LTIAA) presented the "Pay it Forward" award to Rachel Bender '10 and welcomed and congratulated the graduating class of 2017 on May 25, 2017, at the office of Wilkinson, Barker, Knauer LLP. The event was hosted by Patrick R. Halley '10, Partner at Wilkinson, Barker, Knauer LLP.

Halley '10 introduced Catholic Law Professor Beth Winston who provided welcoming remarks and congratulated the graduating LTIAA class of 2017.

Julie Kearney '98 presented the “Pay It Forward” award to Bender '10.

LTIAA Leadership in attendance included Patricia Cave '14, Ali Zayas '10, Tim Doughty '15, Alison Nemeth '14, and Jennifer Hanley '08.

March 28, 2017
Catholic Law Honors Dean William Callyhan Robinson with Lecture Series

The Columbus School of Law’s Intellectual Property Law Program honored Dean William Callyhan Robinson and his legacy on March 20, 2017 with a lecture by Judge Kara F. Stoll, Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

The audience was welcomed with opening remarks from Catholic Law Professor and Co-Director of the Law and Technology Institute Beth Winston, and Doris Johnson Hines, Partner at Finnegan, introduced Judge Stoll.

“Dean Robinson, the founding dean of the Law School, was a prominent scholar in the area of patent law. In 1890 he authored The Law of Patents for Useful Inventions. More than a century later, it is clear that Dean Robinson’s impact on the patent law endures, as his writings have been cited in opinions by the Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, United States District Courts, scholarly articles, casebooks, and treatises,” Winston said.

March 3, 2017
Catholic Law and The Journal of Law and Technology Hosts Annual Symposium The Impact of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board
The Journal of Law and Technology’s annual symposium, “The Impact of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board,” provided an opportunity for students, faculty, and practitioners to hear from experts about the creation and recent developments of the PTAB and the impact of its decisions on the U.S. patent landscape.

The February 28 event opened with introductory remarks by Dean Daniel F. Attridge. The program consisted of two panel discussions and a keynote speech from David P. Ruschke, Chief Judge for the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).

Ruschke, who leads the PTAB, which is authorized to conduct post-grant trials following the passage of the American Invents Act in 2011, discussed his insights as a PTAB judge.

2016 

November 2, 2016
Law and Technology Institute (LTI) and LTI Alumni Association co-hosted program Protecting Consumer Privacy and Promoting Innovation in the Internet Era

Students, alumni, and interested members of the legal community had the chance to hear from one of the top leaders in the communications field and gain specialized information from a group of panelists. The Law and Technology Institute (LTI) and the LTI Alumni Association co-hosted a program entitled “Protecting Consumer Privacy and Promoting Innovation in the Internet Era,” in the Slowinski Courtroom. Professors Megan La Belle and Elizabeth Winston, who serve as Co-Directors of LTI, offered an introduction.

The audience heard opening remarks from Michael O’Rielly, Commissioner of the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Commissioner O’Rielly spoke about the FCC’s recently-adopted Broadband Consumer Privacy Rules, which will limit what internet service providers can do with consumer data and alter the nature of online advertising. Commissioner O’Rielly also discussed his background, career path, and current position at the FCC. He offered sound advice to students in the audience, and noted that many Catholic Law graduates “play key roles at the Commission and are integrated and involved in the formation of communications policy.”

June 3, 2016
The Communications Law Institute Alumni Association and the Law and Technology Institute Honor Bryan N. Tramont with 2016 Milestone Award

The Communications Law Institute Alumni Association (“CLIAA”) and CUA’s Law and Technology Institute (“Institute”) paid tribute on June 2, to Bryan N. Tramont, managing partner of Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP and Catholic Law adjunct professor, for his exemplary service to the Institute and outstanding achievements in the field of communications law.

At an evening reception attended by more than 200 friends, family, colleagues, and Catholic Law alumni, students, and faculty at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington D.C., Tramont was presented with CLIAA’s 2016 Milestone Award in grateful recognition for his strong support of the Institute (formerly the Institute for Communications Law Studies), founded by Professor Emeritus Harvey L. Zuckman in 1981. The Milestone Award, first presented in 1996 to the late Honorable James Quello, former Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has only been awarded on three prior occasions.

March 21, 2016
Latest Edition of the Catholic Law Advantage in Action Series Focuses on Intellectual Property and Information Privacy Law

Catholic Law students, alumni, and faculty gathered together for the latest’s installment, of the Catholic Law Advantage in Action Series, this time with a focus on intellectual property and information privacy law. The Catholic Law Advantage In Action Series was designed with the goal of connecting students and alumni around a particular area of the law to network and provide students with practical career advice and tips for breaking in to a specific field.

The evening began with opening remarks and introductions from Catholic Law Professor and Co-Director of the Law and Technology Institute Megan La Belle. The panelists included: John Zevitas ’11, associate general counsel at Legg Mason, Claire Gartland ’14, consumer protection counsel at Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), Aliza George ’09, associate at Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP, Anne McKenna ’94, partner and chair at Silverman, Thompson, Slutkin & White, LLC and Maureen Feinroth ’90, founder and principal of Capital Privacy Solutions

March 17, 2016 2016
Journal of Law and Technology Symposium Examines Cybersecurity and Privacy in the Internet Economy

Organized by the Journal of Law and Technology in association with the Federal Communications Bar Association, “Cybersecurity and Privacy in the Internet Economy: Information Sharing, Data Security, and Intellectual Property,” presented three panels of experts. The symposium examined the implications of the growing number of reported cyberattacks and data-breaches at private and public entities in recent years and the legal and policy responses.

2015
 

October 22, 2015
FCC Commissioner Pai Explains Effects of Broadband Communication on Entrepreneurship and the Law

In an ever-increasingly connected world, the role of broadband communication has grown inextricably related to nearly every aspect of our lives. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) works to regulate these communications to ensure the protection of consumers while promoting competition and innovation by producers of new technology. Commissioner Ajit Pai spoke with students, faculty, and Communications Law Institute (CLI) alumni of CUA on Thursday, October 22 about the role of the FCC in what is certainly the most rapidly changing era of communication technology, and how the Commission is working to adapt to these advancements.

July 1, 2015
Communications Law Institute Becomes the Law & Technology Institute

The Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America announced that the Institute for Communications Law Studies will now be known as the Law and Technology Institute (LTI). One of the first programs of its kind in the nation, the Institute for Communications Law Studies has a long history of preparing select law students for successful legal careers in the highly dynamic and important field of communications. Under the new name, the Law School’s goal is to build upon and expand the outstanding work and successes that the Institute has accomplished over the past three decades.

Professors Megan La Belle and Elizabeth Winston will serve as the co-directors of LTI. “We are delighted that Professors La Belle and Winston stand ready to lead LTI into the future,” said Daniel F. Attridge, Dean and Knights of Columbus Professor of Law. “We are very excited that LTI will offer expanded opportunities for our students to pursue careers in technology-related areas, with the support of our faculty, staff, alumni, and friends.”

Institute for Communications Law Studies Certificate recipients - Timothy Alling Doughty, William Joseph Durdach III, Meghan K. Lanigan, Lauren C. McCarty, Ashley Nicole Morse pose with Director Donna C. Gregg and Dean Daniel F. Attridge.

May 21, 2015
Institute and Special Program Students Recognized for Their Expertise

The Institutes and Special Programs Certificate Ceremony, held a day in advance of the general law school commencement, invited graduates of the four certificate-issuing Institutes, as well as their families and loved ones, to bask in their achievement.

The certificate is acknowledgment of the commitment students have demonstrated in acquiring expertise and developing skills through advanced course work, externships, and research and writing. The certificate concentration areas are communications law, comparative and international law, law and public policy, and securities law. These are among the most dynamic practice areas today, and our students are well positioned to launch into stimulating and rewarding careers.

The distribution of certificates began with Professor Donna C. Gregg, who focused on the achievements of the graduates of the Institute for Communications Law Studies. As though gazing into a crystal ball, Professor Gregg forecast the graduates’ future careers, as she envisioned them assuming leadership roles in industry trade associations, on Capitol Hill forming public policy, in law firms specializing in communications, and in the business and corporate arena.

Professor Gregg has served as director of the Communications Law Institute since 2011. She will be handing over the program to newly appointed Co-Directors Megan M. La Belle, associate professor of law, and Elizabeth I. Winston, associate professor of law.

May 12, 2015
Ghana Telecommunications Official Visits Law School Capstone Class

During their final semester at Catholic Law, J.D. students pursuing a Certificate in Communications Law Studies participate in a Capstone Seminar that enables them to apply the expertise they have gained in the classroom and through telecommunications-focused externships to some of the cutting-edge issues in the telecommunications field today.

Each year, the seminar focuses on one or more “hot topics", which the students research and debate during class. The impact of the Internet and recent developments in information technology naturally were among this year’s key areas of focus.

At the seminar’s final meeting, the students enjoyed a special presentation from an official of the National Communications Authority of Ghana, Mr. Abed Bandim, who visited the Law School while in Washington for a Conference at the World Bank. Thanks to his interesting presentation and the ensuing conversation about Ghana’s efforts to deploy broadband and advanced information services throughout a developing nation, the members of the class now view the issues they have studied with a more global perspective.

March 31, 2015
CommLaw Symposium Highlights Promise and Pitfalls of Internet of Things

The annual symposium sponsored by the Law School’s CommLaw Conspectus: Journal of Communications Law & Technology Policy and the Institute for Communications Law, in association with the Federal Communications Bar Association, examined how both society and communications networks are handling the proliferation of connected devices, the data they generate, their impact on both telecommunications networks and consumers and their diverse legal and regulatory implications.

Two panels of leading communications professionals represented the FTC, Capitol Hill, the FCC, device manufacturers, carriers, and other points of view. The keynote address was given by FTC Commissioner Maureen K. Ohlhausen.

“Internet of Things: Device Innovation and Network Implications,” was held on March 31, 2015, at Wiley Rein LLP, 1776 K Street, NW, Main Conference Center, Washington, DC.

February 6-7, 2015
Moot Court National Telecommunications Competition

On Feb. 6 and 7, the Columbus School of Law hosted the 20th National Telecommunications Law Moot Court Competition. As in previous years, the event was organized by the Law School’s Moot Court Board, under the leadership of Moot Court Board Chancellor Amy Allin and competition Vice Chancellor Erik Fawcett, with assistance from the Law School’s Institute for Communications Law Studies. The Federal Communications Bar Association once again served as competition co-sponsor.

This year’s competition followed a round-robin format including law school teams from University of Colorado Boulder, Southwestern University, University of Baltimore, George Washington University, and the home team from Catholic Law. Third-year CLI students Tim Doughty and Bill Durdach represented the home team in the competition and were coached by CLI alumni Preston Thomas of Jones Day and Ian Forbes from the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau.

Two former FCC General Counsels served as the competition’s final round judges. FCBA President-Elect Christopher J. Wright currently heads the appellate practice of Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis. Matthew Berry is currently Chief of Staff to FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai, and was a partner in the Technology and Communications Practice Group at Patton Boggs, LLP. Fifteen members of the FCBA also served as oral argument and brief judges.

January 22, 2015
Communications Law Career Panel & Alumni Reception

Four recent graduates of Catholic University’s Institute for Communications Law Studies returned to the law school on January 22 to share their experiences and views on how to launch a successful career in the field of communications law. Panelists included alumni Patricia Cave, `14, Director of Government Affairs at WTA: Advocates for Rural Broadband; Arturo Chang, `13, Attorney-Advisor at NTIA - U.S. Department of Commerce; Noah Cherry, `12, Attorney at Cinnamon Mueller; and Kelsey Guyselman, `12, Counsel, Committee on Energy and Commerce at U.S. House of Representatives.

The annual communications law career panel and the alumni and student networking reception, which followed, were hosted by the Institute for Communications Law Studies (CLI), the Communications Law Students Association and the Catholic Law Alumni Association.

2014
 

December 6, 2014 Communications Law Students and Alumni Band Together to Support Local Charity Auction

Forty-one current and former students of the Columbus School of Law’s Institute for Communications Law Studies pitched in to assist with a major charitable fundraiser by the communications law bar last month. The Federal Communications Bar Association’s (FCBA) 25th Annual Charity Auction on Nov. 6, considered among the “must-attend” events for the communications industry, raised more than $90,500 with the help of 12 current Institute students and 29 of its graduates.

This year’s auction proceeds benefit BUILD Metro DC and the FCBA Foundation’s scholarship programs. BUILD Metro DC, a local charitable organization, offers a four-year program for high school students in low-income communities who are not on track academically and are at the highest risk of dropping out of school. Through entrepreneurship-based experiential learning, BUILD equips these young people for high school, college, and career success. The program also provides participants with classroom tutoring, free SAT and ACT prep courses, guidance in the college application process, and financial aid support. The FCBA Foundation also uses auction proceeds to support its scholarship programs.

Third-year CLI students Tim Doughty,Bill Durdach, and Lauren McCarty joined 13 CLI alumni as co-chairs for auction subcommittees. Second-year students Lizbeth Chow, Russell Hsiao, Chris Mills,Molly O’Connor, and Danielle Thumann; and 1Ls Jonathan Cannon,Ryan Morrison, Daniel Robinson, and Adam Sandler also served as volunteers.

July 28, 2014

Alumna S. Jenell Trigg Inducted into the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council Hall of Fame S. Jenell Trigg, a 1997 graduate of the Columbus School of Law and currently a member of the law school’s Board of Visitors, was inducted into the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council (MMTC) Hall of Fame on July 28, 2014, during the MMTC’s 12th Annual Access to Capital and Telecom Policy Conference.

Trigg, who chairs the Intellectual Property and New Technology Practice Group of Lerman Senter PLLC, was recognized for her many years of exceptional contributions to diversity and inclusion in the media and telecom industries. Lerman Senter is a major sponsor of the Conference.

MMTC is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and preserving equal opportunity and civil rights in the mass media, telecommunications and broadband industries, and closing the digital divide. The organization inducts several leading communications practitioners, advocates and scholars into its Hall of Fame each year, selecting people who have rendered exceptional contributions over many years to diversity and inclusion in the media and telecom industries.

Trigg joined Lerman Senter in 2001 following a 16-year career in broadcast television sales and marketing in the Chicago and Baltimore markets. She specializes in privacy and data security issues, as well as intellectual property concerns, and government regulation of the Internet and new technologies.

Prior to private practice, Trigg served as an assistant chief counsel for the United States Small Business Administration, where she directed its involvement in all telecommunications and Internet issues and proceedings before the FCC, other federal and state government agencies, the White House, and Congress. She was also the first executive director and CEO for The Telecom Opportunity Institute, a non-profit corporation that promotes career and training opportunities in telecommunications for disadvantaged youth, minorities and women.

Trigg received certification from the law school’s Institute for Communications Law Studies with honors and was one of the first evening students to complete the entire program. Her awards and recognition include the FCBA’s Distinguished Service Award, MMTC’s Extraordinary Service Award, MMTC’s Distinguished Pro Bono Award, and the Catholic Law School Alumni Society Award for academic excellence and service to the law school and community.

June 23, 2014 International Telecom Regulators Return to CUA Law

For the third year in a row, a group of international telecomm regulators and lawyers from developing nations attended a week-long course at the Columbus School of Law that was designed to keep them up to speed with developments in their field.

Hailing from Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean, the visiting students spent the week of June 16 -20th attending “The Rule of Law and Best Practices for Telecomm Regulators,” taught by Professor Donna Coleman Gregg, director of the law school’s Institute for Communications Law Studies.

The Institute helped to originate the program in 2012. The sessions are held under the auspices of the United States Telecommunications Training Institute (USTTI) and provide training for communications professionals, regulators, and entrepreneurs from the developing world.

Telecommunications is one of the fastest changing industries in existence. The goal of the annual USTTI conference is to keep experts from developing countries apprised of the ideas and approaches than lead to the development of best practices in telecommunication regulation suitable to a variety of settings and circumstances. The week brought a mixture of classwork, guest speakers, and onsite visits that included a tour of the U.S. Capitol. The group was also given briefings at C-SPAN and the FCC.

Other highlights included an opening keynote session with Ambassador David Gross, a roundtable discussion with the course participants and FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, and a closing luncheon keynote address from Catholic Law alumnus John Kneuer, 1994, former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Telecommunication and Information. The students concluded their week by offering group case study presentations before their colleagues. They were presented with certificates upon their completion of the class.

Reflecting on the week, Professor Gregg said, “It’s a privilege to work with the USTTI on this program. Telecommunication has the ability to bridge gaps and make the world a smaller place. Our week together helped all those who participated in the course to learn from each other while discovering best practices in telecommunication regulation.”

March 19, 2014 Communications Law Institute Alumni Return to Share Career Advice

Honoring a long tradition of alumni support for current students, four recent graduates of Catholic University’s Institute for Communications Law Studies returned to the law school on March 19 to share their insights on how to launch a successful career in this dynamic area of legal practice.

The hour-long program was held in conjunction with the Federal Communications Bar Association’s (FCBA) Young Lawyers Committee, which annually sponsors information sessions at local law schools on pathways to careers in communications law and policy.

The speakers were four alumni of Catholic Law’s Institute for Communications Law Studies (CLI). Each related how the skills and the network they acquired from participation in the institute and the FCBA Law Student Division enabled them to secure highly sought-after legal externships in government, private practice, and industry organizations, which in turn led them to the careers they are pursuing today.

“This is one of the most energizing messages a current communications law student can hear, that there are terrific jobs and opportunities available in the field, and proven strategies to land them,” said Professor Donna Coleman Gregg, Director of the Institute for Communications Law Studies.

Sharing their stories and career insights were: Ian Forbes, 2012, who was selected from a highly-competitive field of applicants for one of the few legal position openings in the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau.

Alex Reynolds, 2012, is senior manager and regulatory counsel at the Consumer Electronics Association, where he had an externship during law school.

Kara Azocar, 2011, who began her legal career at wireless industry association PCIA, is now an associate in the communications practice at Covington and Burling.

Rachael Bender, 2010, is policy director for Mobile Future, a national coalition of cutting-edge technology and communications companies and non-profit organizations.

Jeremy Berkowitz, a 2010 CLI graduate, represented the FCBA Young Lawyers Committee at the event. He is a senior consultant in analytics capability at Booz Allen Hamilton, where his current responsibilities include analyzing broadband law and policy for the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Emergency Communications. The panel and Q&A session with current and prospective CLI students was moderated by 2L Conor MacCaffrey, who serves as secretary of the Communications Law Students Association. Brian Indovina, a third-year evening student who is also enrolled in the Institute for Communications Law Studies, assisted FCBA in organizing the event.

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2013
 

Oct. 7 – 10, 2013 Law School Alumni Turn Out in Force for Telecom Policy Roundtable

A number of prominent Columbus School of Law graduates were among the featured speakers at an Oct. 9. breakfast policy roundtable for women leaders in information and communications technology held by the Telecommunication Industry Association (TIA) at the organization’s 2013 Annual Strategy Conference. The event was held Oct. 7-10, 2013, at the Gaylord National in Washington, DC.

Professor Donna Gregg (left) director of the Law School’s Institute for Communications Law Studies, was also among the presenters at the morning panel.

Columbus School of Law graduates who joined Gregg as speakers included Susan Miller, 1984, president and CEO of Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Standards; Angela Kronenberg, 1995, chief advocate and general counsel, COMPTEL; and Danielle Coffey, 2004, vice president and general counsel, of government affairs for the Telecommunication Industry Association. Kronenberg and Coffey also earned certificates from the Law School’s Institute for Communications Law Studies.

The roundtable featured women CEOs, senior executives, and technology and policy experts who shared their experiences and vision for the future of the telecommunications and information network.

2013, Sept. 17 Alumna Amy Mushahwar, 2005, Discusses Boom in New Internet Domains on NPR's Kojo Nnamdi Show Navigating the “information superhighway” may soon be even more complicated. As early as November, the first of hundreds of new domains will become available, vastly expanding the Internet from websites that end with traditional suffixes like .com. Kojo examines concerns about fairness and fraud, and probes a potential revolution in online search as the world gears up for .google, .app, .green — and the first domains in non-English scripts.

2013, July 22-26

Telecom Policymakers from Around the World Attend Seminar at Catholic Law Twenty-one regulators and telecom lawyers from a dozen countries attended a week-long course on the “Rule of Law and Best Practices in Telecommunications Regulation,” hosted by The Columbus School of Law from July 22-26.

It was the second year in a row that the law school has been the site of the course, which the law school’s Institute for Communications Law Studies helped to originate in 2012. The sessions are held under the auspices of the United States Telecommunications Training Institute (USTTI) and provide training for communications professionals, regulators, and entrepreneurs from the developing world.

With telecommunications as one of the fastest changing industries in existence, the goal of the USTTI conference was to keep experts from developing countries apace with the ideas and approaches than can lead to the development of best practices in telecommunication regulation suitable to a variety of settings and circumstances. Through a series of lectures, tours, and group problem-solving, participants come away with a better understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of various regulatory practices, procedures, and approaches in use or under consideration in the United States and elsewhere.

Organized by Professor Donna Gregg, director of Catholic University’s Institute for Communications Law Studies, this year’s program brought the international group into contact with some of the best minds in the business, including a presentation by CUA Law alumna Kathleen Quinn Abernathy, current executive vice president of external affairs for Frontier Communications, Inc. and a former commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission. Other speakers throughout the week included Ambassador David Gross, one of the world’s foremost experts on international telecommunications and someone who has led more U.S. delegations to major international telecommunication conferences than anyone else in modern history; Anna Gomez, former deputy assistant secretary for communications and information, National Telecommunication and Information Administration, U.S. Dept. of Commerce; and Dr. Brian Fontes, CEO of the National Emergency Number Association.

The week’s agenda also offered learning opportunities outside the classroom. The group toured the U.S. Capitol, C-SPAN, FCC headquarters, and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, a walk-through guided by Professor Lucia Silecchia.

Supplementary presentations also included a lecture on the impact of intellectual property issues on telecom regulation by Professor Megan La Belle. Former FCC Commissioner Robert M. McDowell delivered remarks at the closing luncheon.

The 2013 USTTI conference concluded with the USTTI’s presentation of certificates of successful completion to the course participants. Countries represented included Bahamas, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Jamaica, Kuwait, Malawi, Nigeria, Philippines, St. Kitts and Thailand. Reflecting on the week, Professor Gregg said, “It’s a privilege to work with the USTTI on this program. Telecommunication has the ability to bridge gaps and make the world a smaller place. Our week together helped all those who participated in the course to learn from each other while discovering best practices in telecommunication regulation.”

2013, May 15

COMPTEL Names Former FCC Advisor Angela Kronenberg as Chief Advocate and General Counsel

COMPTEL, the leading trade association for the competitive communications industry, today announced that Angela ("Angie") Kronenberg, former wireline legal advisor for FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, was named as the association's chief advocate and general counsel. In this role, Kronenberg will lead COMPTEL's legal and policy group as the association continues to promote competition and address the issues facing the competitive industry at federal agencies and state commissions, as well as on Capitol Hill. Her first day at COMPTEL will be June 3. "We are excited to welcome Angie to COMPTEL. Her in-depth knowledge and experience in both the wireline and wireless sectors will further enhance the association's talented policy team," said COMPTEL CEO Jerry James. "There are numerous important issues -- from the evolution of networks to IP technology, copper retirement to special access and universal service reform -- that are now under review. We look forward to working with Angie to bring additional insight and resources to our advocacy on these issues as we continue to represent the interests of our members and the competitive industry."

Kronenberg served for three years in her advisor role for Commissioner Clyburn. Prior to that, she was a special counsel in the Spectrum and Competition Policy Division of the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. She also practiced telecommunications and media law in the Washington, D.C. office of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP for more than a decade. Kronenberg earned a J.D., magna cum laude, from the Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America where she also earned a certification from The Institute for Communications Law Studies, and she earned a B.A., magna cum laude, from Baylor University and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.

"The members of COMPTEL have been at the forefront of investment and innovation in the telecommunications industry, creating jobs in the U.S. and offering valuable communications alternatives that benefit consumers, small and mid-sized businesses, and the economy," Kronenberg said. "I am honored to have the opportunity to represent COMPTEL and its members as chief advocate and general counsel, and I look forward to advancing COMPTEL's message that consumers are best protected by laws and policies that promote effective competition."

April 4, 2013
Global Challenges to Communications Law and Policy in an Age of Austerity

In a nearly four-hour discussion covering everything from cyber security to the possible fate of broadcast TV commercials, the annual symposium sponsored by the Columbus School of Law’s Communications Law Institute and its journal, CommLaw Conspectus, offered substance and expertise across a number of issues at the forefront of communications law today.

The April 4 forum, "Global Challenges to Communications Law and Policy in an Age of Austerity" featured expert panelists who discussed Congress’s latest legislative initiatives for securing the nation’s most sensitive computer networks from outside attack, as well as analysis of the “Hopper” controversy.

The Hopper DVR is a device that permits Dish Networks subscribers to record television and then instantly fast-forward past all the commercials. The gadget has stirred the ire of broadcasters who depend on commercial revenue. So far, courts have refused to issue a preliminary injunction to shut down the service. As in recent years, the symposium was again hosted by the law firm Wiley Rein at its downtown D.C. conference center.

The keynote address was delivered by Ambassador David Gross, a Wiley Rein partner and the former U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy, U.S. State Department (2001-2009). Speakers represented private industry, trade organizations and government agencies, the latter category including FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai.

Catholic University law school Professor Donna Gregg, director of Catholic University’s Institute for Communications Law Studies, moderated at morning panel titled “New Considerations in Communications Policy.” Outside sponsors of the symposium include T-Mobile, Communications Daily, and CTIA, the Wireless Association.

March 21, 2013 Professor Donna Gregg Joins High-Powered Speakers on Future of Digital Communications

Catholic University law school Professor Donna Gregg, director of the Institute for Communications Law Studies at the Columbus School of Law, spoke on a panel at The Free State Foundation’s Fifth Annual Telecom Policy Conference, “Completing the Transition to a Digital Word: How to Finish the Job and Why it Matters.” Gregg discussed “The Right Regulatory Approach for Video Providers.” Originally scheduled to take at the National Press Club, intense interest in the discussion and the crowd it drew prompted a move to a larger venue at the National Association of Home Builders auditorium.

The March 21 symposium also featured as keynote speaker Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and its Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet. Former FCC Chairman and CUA law adjunct communications professor Michael Powell, now the CEO of the National Cable Telecommunication Association, was a fellow guest on Gregg’s panel.

The Free State Foundation is a non-profit, nonpartisan think tank that promotes understanding of free market, limited government, and rule of law principles at the federal level and in Maryland.

It has sponsored previous discussions on broadband and Internet policy, video and wireless regulation, and spectrum policy and spectrum auctions.

Feb. 26, 2013
Communications Law Institute Students Take "Final Exam" at Downtown Law Firm They’ve been working toward it for a year, and on Feb. 26 students enrolled in the Columbus School of Law’s “Becoming a Communications Lawyer” class got the chance to demonstrate what they’ve learned at a mock hearing conducted in the Washington, D.C. offices of telecommunications firm Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP.

Course instructors Bryan Tramont and Rosemary Harold are partners at the firm. The class exercise was set up as ex parte, meaning it was a proceeding that is conducted for the benefit of only one party.

Six current and former FCC attorneys took part in the mock meeting and played the roles of attorneys from the Office of General Counsel at the FCC and advisers in the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and International Bureau, as well as current FCC Commissioners.

“Students represented corporate and public interest groups seeking to advance their clients' interests regarding an actual FCC docket that looked at modifying service rules for spectrum recently acquired by DISH Network,” explained third-year evening student Jonathan Quigley.

The students also drafted mock comments for submission to the FCC. “Becoming a Communications Lawyer” is a class offered through Catholic University’s Communications Law Institute Certificate program.

2012
 

October 2012 - Alexis Zayas, 2010, is FCC Honors Attorney

Even the nameplate on her office reads “Honors Attorney,” so high is the distinction of the program within the Federal Communications Commission. Alexis "Ali" Zayas, a 2010 LL.M. graduate of the Columbus School of Law’s Communications Law Institute (CLI), is the first LL.M. graduate of the program to have landed a spot in the FCC's extremely competitive and prestigious Honors Attorney program, where she began a two-year appointment in September 2012.

The program takes only the cream of the crop. It means you’re a truly outstanding attorney,” says Catholic University law Professor Donna Gregg, CLI’s director.

The FCC’s Attorney Honors Program is an employment and training program designed to introduce law school graduates to the field of communications law and policy. Honors Program attorneys are on the frontline and participate in a wide variety of learning experiences, such as drafting decisions in adjudicatory and rulemaking matters, working to resolve complex policy issues before the agency, participating in international negotiations, and representing the FCC in dealings with other government agencies, Congress, and the private sector.

Zayas was selected from among more than 750 applicants nationwide for one of only five slots in the Honors Attorney Program. She is employed with the FCC’s Media Bureau, Industry Analysis Division.

“This was the dream job I wanted. I was excited to be called for the interview,” Zayas recalls. “You do get a lot on your plate as an Honors Attorney. I feel like my opinions are taken seriously and I’m listened to."

Zayas earned her J.D. at the University of Kansas School of Law. Although she externed at the FCC during her 2L summer, she had limited experience in the ways of Washington when she commenced her LL.M. studies. But she used her time in D.C. very well, Professor Gregg noticed, quickly building a network of contacts that proved invaluable upon graduation. “I think my LL.M. definitely played a part in getting hired,” says Zayas. “So many people gave me great advice, especially my CLI professors. They really know the communications law network in D.C. Their advice was invaluable, especially so as I prepared for the honors program interview.”

And as for the future? “I like the issues I’m working on here. I’d like to stay,” Zayas said.

September 25, 2012 - S. Jenell Trigg, 1997, Recognized for Promoting Diversity in Media. Catholic University law school alumna S. Jenell Trigg, Class of 1997 (left) was honored with the Donald H. McGannon Award on Sept. 25 “in recognition of her work to promote opportunities in telecommunications media for women and persons of color.” The award was presented by The United Church of Christ’s Office of Communication Inc., as part of its 30th Annual Everett C. Parker Ethics in Telecommunications Lecture and Breakfast held in downtown Washington, D.C.

Trigg, chair of the Intellectual Property and New Media and Technology Practice Group of the law firm of Lerman Senter PLLC, is widely known for representing media and telecommunications companies owned and operated by minorities, helping them to succeed in the highly competitive telecommunications and media industries. For example, she was a principal in the legal team that successfully petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit to vacate FCC rules that would have seriously hindered the ability of small and minority-owned and women-owned new entrants to successfully participate in FCC auctions for wireless spectrum. "I am very honored but also humbled by this wonderful recognition because it verifies that women and minority ownership in the media and telecommunications industries remains an important objective for this country and that my dedication to fulfilling this objective has made a difference," says Trigg.

In her acceptance remarks, Trigg also recalled her nervousness about starting law school after pursuing a career in broadcasting. Her determination to forge ahead was clinched after hearing for the first time a story about her grandmother, Lucy Carrington Cooke. Cooke fought segregation by challenging policies that prevented the school bus from travelling an extra three miles to pick up young African-American children. "The historical absence of diversity in communications was one of the reasons I transitioned from a successful sales and marketing career in broadcasting to a legal career in communications," Trigg explains.

The event’s signature speech, the Parker Lecture, is the only lecture in the country that examines telecommunications in the digital age from an ethical perspective, according to organizers. It was delivered by the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., who decried the growing communications divide into digital "haves" and "have-nots," as well as the fact that broadcast ownership rates for women and minorities still lag well behind the share of the population those persons represent.

Trigg has spent most of her career battling the kinds of conditions that drew Jackson’s ire. Before turning to private practice, she served as assistant chief counsel for telecommunications for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy, where she directed the office’s involvement in telecommunications and Internet policy issues before the FCC, other federal and state agencies, the White House, and Congress.

She also served on the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Interagency Task Force on Diversity and EEO. She has served as a consultant and subject matter expert to the FCC’s Federal Advisory Committee on Diversity for Communications in the Digital Age since its inception, and also as a member of its Funding Acquisition Task Force.

Trigg served as the first executive director and chief operating officer for The Telecom Opportunity Institute, a non-profit corporation that promotes career and training opportunities in telecommunications for disadvantaged youths, minorities, and women. She is a former member of the board of directors of the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council, and currently serves on its board of advisors.

In presenting the award, The United Church of Christ noted that Trigg “has been a tireless, strong advocate, working to ensure that the traditional and digital media in the United States are as diverse as the country they serve.”

July 2012 -3L Emilie De Lozier is Recipient of 2012 FCBA Foundation Award.

Catholic University law school student Emilie De Lozier was among 14 law students nationwide to receive a stipend from the Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA) for the summer of 2012.

The grant permitted De Lozier to take an unpaid, communications-related legal summer public service externship in the office of FCC Commissioner Robert M. McDowell. De Lozier is a rising third-year student in the Institute for Communications Law Studies at Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law. She is managing editor of the CommLaw Conspectus: Journal of Communications Law and Policy and vice president of the Communications Law Students Association.

A native Washingtonian, De Lozier earlier worked as a paralegal for two years at Williams & Connolly, LLP. Last fall, she interned at the FCC in the investigations and hearings division of the Enforcement Bureau, and spent her spring semester with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration in the Office of the Chief Counsel.

The FCBA Foundation, celebrating its 21st anniversary, offers each stipend recipient up to $5,000 to enable their acceptance of public service summer internships.

June 11-15, 2012 The Rule of Law and Best Practices in Telecommunications Regulation-
Catholic University’s law school was home base during the week of June 11-15 for 17 telecommunications professionals, regulators, and attorneys from the developing world, who were offered tuition-free professional training by the United States Telecommunications Training Institute (USTTI).

May 1, 2012 Judge Wiley honored with Milestone Award- Catholic University’s Institute for Communications Law Studies and its Communications Law Institute Alumni Association paid tribute on May 1, 2012, to the Hon. Richard E. Wiley, former FCC Chairman and founding partner of Wiley Rein LLP, for his exemplary service to the Institute and outstanding achievements in the field of communications law.

May 24, 2012 Institutes Certificate Ceremony- On May 24, the Institute for Communications Law Studies awarded certificates to twelve graduates who have earned the distinction through coursework and externships. Congratulations!

CLI Certificate recipients

April 11, 2012 "A Telecommunications Agenda for 2012 and Beyond" Symposium- A CommLaw Conspectus Symposium was held on April 11 to examine the regulatory policy and political climate that will have some bearing on the future shape and direction of the telecommunications industry. The symposium was sponsored by CommLaw Conspectus: Journal of Communications Law & Policy and the Institute for Communications Law Studies at the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, in association with the Federal Communications Bar Association. The symposium was hosted by the law firm Wiley Rein and brought together nearly two dozen experts from the telecommunications field.

February 16, Practitioners Share Career Advice and Insights- On February 16, a panel of five attorneys, including three alumni, all who specialize in the various fields of communications law gave a presentation and panel discussion to describe different aspects of their practices. They shared their own career paths, and offered in-depth advice on career choices and opportunities, job searches, interviewing, and succeeding in the profession. There was also a time for networking where the students were able to meet and talk with the panelists on a more personal level.

2011
 

August 22, Industry Leaders Join Faculty- On August 22, two Telecom industry leaders joined the faculty at the Columbus School of Law as Adjunct Instructors. Both bring valuable experience in the communications field and will teach a new course, “Regulating the Internet and New Technologies."

May 26, Institutes Certificate Ceremony- At the annual Institutes Certificate Ceremony on May 26, ten Communications Law Students were given their certificates from the Institute of Communications Law Studies. Congratulations!

March 15, Spectrum Strategies: Exploring the Future of America's Invisible Infrastructure- A CommLaw Conspectus Symposium was hosted by Wiley Rein LLP on March 15, 2011. It was sponsored by CommLaw Conspectus: Journal of Communications Law & Policy and the Institute for Communications Law Studies at the Catholic University Columbus School of Law in association with the Federal Communications Bar Association. More information for the 2012 CommLaw Conspectus Symposium can be found here.

2011 Moot Court Team

February 4-5, Catholic Law Team Reaches Semifinals at 2011 National Telecommunications Moot Court Competition- A Columbus School of Law team consisting of 2L Ian Forbes and 3L Melody Cheung reached the semifinal round of the 2011 National Telecommunications Moot Court Competition, hosted at Catholic University’s law school on Feb. 4 and 5th. Nine law schools from across the country fielded teams in the prestigious competition, which was ultimately won by the University of Colorado Law School. Well done!

2010 

October 19, Silver Anniversary Celebration for Institute for Communications Law Studies- Dozens of alumni of Catholic University’s Institute for Communications Law Studies returned to the law school on Oct. 19, 2010, to help celebrate the program’s 25th year of existence and honor its founder, Professor Emeritus Harvey Zuckman

August 5, Student Externs Share Lunch, Talk and Career Advice with CUA Law Alumni at the FCC- A group of Catholic University communications law students met with law school alumni who are current staff members at Federal Communications Commission for a brown bag lunch at the commission’s Washington, D.C. headquarters.

August 1, Donna Coleman Gregg named director of the Institute for Communications Law Studies- Donna Coleman Gregg, who served as senior policy adviser within the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and as former chief of the Federal Communications Commission’s Media Bureau, has been appointed director of the Columbus School of Law’s Institute for Communications Law Studies, effective Aug. 1, 2010.

May 27, Institutes Certificate Ceremony- There were sixteen graduates this year who received their certificate in Communications Law. Congratulations!

March 27, 3L Named Best Oralist at National TeleComm Competition- Catholic University third-year law student Preston Thomas was named Best Oralist at the Sixteenth Annual National Telecommunications Moot Court Competition, held at the Columbus School of Law on March 27, 2010.

March 25, Student Scholars Lecture Series- Nantz Rickard, Class of 2010 and CLI certificate recipient, presents the Student Scholars Lecture Series - “Ensuring the Tail Doesn’t Wag the Dog: States’ Balancing of Defamation Pleading Standards Against Protecting a First Amendment Right to Anonymity;” respondent - Robert Arcamona, Legal Correspondent for MediaShift, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).

February 24, Implementing the National Broadband Plan: Perspectives from Government, Industry and Consumers- A symposium was hosted by Wiley Rein LLP, sponsored by CommLaw Conspectus: Journal of Communications Law & Policy and the Institute for Communications Law Studies at the Catholic University Columbus School of Law in association with the Federal Communications Bar Association. More information on the symposium can be found here.

2009
 

October 27 The Communications Law Annual Fall Alumni/Student Mixer – “Modern Wireless Technology and Implications for Public Policy,” by Dale Hatfield, Independent Consultant and Adjunct Professor in the Interdisciplinary Telecommunications Program at the University of Colorado at Bolder.

Feb. 26 Symposium Interference: Wireless Innovation, Public Interest Regulatory Response

2008

Certificate (pdf) View Web album

Communications Law Month - February 2008

2007

CommLaw Program Lauded in Leading Industry Newsletter

Catholic Law's highly successful Communications Law Institute is written up in one of the nation's preeminent daily telecom news sources.

Catholic Law Team Wins National Moot Court Competition Second-year students Jennifer Hanley and Tyler Van Voorhees come out on top at 2007 National Telecommunications Moot Court Competition.

2006

Bringing America Up to Speed," LIVE Web cast, March 28, 2006, a communications law symposium to examine the nation's broadband future.

2005

Thursday, March 17, 2005 - "The Telecommunications Act of 1996: A Case of Regulatory Obsolescence?" Sponsored by CommLaw Conspectus: Journal of Communications Law and Policy; the Institute for Communications Law Studies; and the FCC among others, the symposium invited speakers from government, private industry and trade associations to peer into the near future and try to anticipate what legislative changes are necessary to nurture and encourage the continued growth of high technology communications. Guests included FCC Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy, as well as several other staffers and legal counsel from that agency. Also represented were companies such as Cisco Systems, T-Mobile and Bell South, as well as some of Washington, D.C.'s most prominent communications law firms. http://digitalmedia.cua.edu/events/event_dsp.cfm?event=1862