As the Federal Communications Commission prepares to vote at the end of the month on Chairman Tom Wheeler’s proposal to reclassify broadband as a utility, law firms can count themselves among the winners.
The lengthy proceedings have created a bonanza of advocacy work. According to FCC filings by law firms, telecom boutique Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis has been the most active in lobbying the FCC on the issue, meeting at least 14 times in the past year with agency officials, including the chairman. Latham & Watkins and Steptoe & Johnson LLP are close behind. Both firms met at least 13 times with FCC officials, according to filings made by the firms. (The numbers do not include filings that may have made independently by clients.)
