Thomas W. Cohen

Partner

Phone number
(202) 342-8518

Thomas Cohen’s practice focuses on providing legal counsel to further the business interests of entities engaged in the provision of wireline and wireless telecommunications, cable (video) and broadband, including Internet services. He has significant experience in federal and state administrative and legislative advocacy and business-related legal matters, including contracts, transactions and litigation.

Tom has 40 years of experience in the communications/telecommunications industry sector, first as a government policy maker, serving for over a decade as assistant general counsel for legislation at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and as senior counsel for the Senate Commerce Committee. He then was a founder and principal in firms assessing and developing communications/telecommunications properties and advising businesses. Tom joined Kelley Drye in 2005.

“My clients depend on me to understand and help them achieve their business objectives by providing advice and counsel on the law, policy, politics and public relations.”

Wireline (Telecommunications and Cable)

Representing both individual cable operators and a cable trade association in numerous federal telecommunications and cable-related proceedings.

Representing competitive local exchange providers in ensuring access to and interconnection with incumbent providers, including by negotiating interconnection agreements.

Advising infrastructure providers on local franchising obligations and contracts with multi-tenant building owners.

Representing a variety of competitive providers before the FCC and the DOJ’s Antitrust Division in responding to proposed mergers and transactions.

Wireless

Representing Loea Communications in obtaining spectrum rules in the 70–90 GHz (milliwave) bands, and then assisting in obtaining equipment certification and licenses.

Representing Trex Enterprises in obtaining spectrum rules and a waiver to provide service for Foreign Object Debris detection radar for use at airports (70–80 GHz bands).

Providing advice to a foreign wireless provider on the status of spectrum allocation and licensing proceedings, including in the 600 MHz, 3.5 GHz and 5 GHz bands.

Representing providers in seeking access spectrum allocations for unlicensed use.

Transactions/Financings

Performing regulatory due diligence and obtaining regulatory approvals in regard to mergers for various telecommunications and cable providers.

Advising and assisting a cable operator in selling its systems.

Advising various financial investment firms on telecommunications issues.

Advising competitive telecommunications providers in the development of business cases for the provision of local telecommunications services.

Litigation

Representing a group of local exchange carriers involved in access charge litigation in federal courts and related matters before state and federal regulatory agencies.

The Best Lawyers in America© (Woodward/White, Inc.), Communications Law, 2020-2025.

Recognized as a leading attorney in Communications practice area by Washington D.C. Super Lawyers, 2017-2019.

Recommended in US Legal 500 for his work in the Telecoms and Broadcast–Regulatory area, 2012–2024.