Michael R. Dover

Special Counsel

Location
Chicago
Phone number
(312) 857-7087

Mike Dover’s practice focuses on providing practical legal advice to communications providers and innovative technology companies throughout the United States.

Prior to joining Kelley Drye, Mike worked as a telecommunications regional network engineer, network planner, and build-out project manager for a national mobile service provider in Illinois and Michigan. He understands the demands that business professionals and in-house counsel face.

As a trusted legal advisor, clients and colleagues alike depend on Mike’s in-depth tech sector experience and his ability to anticipate and navigate complex legal structures related to existing and emerging technologies.

Mike’s industry experience and tech know-how help him understand the details of complex existing and emerging technologies and offer his clients practical and actionable legal advice. Innovative communications providers and technology companies turn to Mike for advice on a variety of matters, from commercial business relationships and disputes to regulatory compliance.

Mike’s experience includes:

  • hardware and software applications, such as communications infrastructure, SaaS, and the Internet of Things (IoT)
  • regulatory requirements, such as telecommunications and cable franchising, E911, Universal Service Fund rules and compliance, Universal Service Fund program compliance (including Lifeline, the Emergency Broadband Benefit, and the Affordable Connectivity Program)
  • security, privacy, and data protection

Mike makes a point of understanding every aspect of his clients’ goals and concerns. By getting the details right, he’s able to effectively leverage the nuances of the technology involved and give advice suited to their needs.

“If your business relies on tech, you need a lawyer who’s not afraid of it. Because I have hands-on industry experience, I’m able to quickly grasp the underlying technology and the legal issues that may arise.”

Counsel relating to FCC, state regulatory, and local requirements for telecommunications providers, information service providers, video and cable providers, mobile service providers, resellers, and wholesale facility providers.

Regulatory counsel relating to several asset acquisitions, stock acquisitions, and mergers of entities, including revisions to purchase agreements, authority and license transfer and assignment analyses, and state and local cable and open video agreement transfers and assignments analyses.

Negotiated and drafted international interconnection agreements and carrier access agreements.

Handled all aspects of proceedings before the FCC and various state commissions, including testimonial hearings before several state commissions.

Advised on federal and state Universal Service Fund programs, including the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBBP), Lifeline, Connect America Fund (CAF), Rural Digital Opportunity (RDOF).

Provided advice on state program requirements concerning the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) broadband program and the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program.

Counselor on DAS (Distributed Antenna Systems) and other telecommunications infrastructure requirements and disputes.

Counsel to investors in blockchain SAFTs (Simple Agreements for Future Tokens) in a breach of contract and fraud dispute.

Advisor on multi-line corporate telephone system requirements in the U.S. and international locations, including with respect to Kari’s Law and the RAY BAUM Act.

Counselor on software licensee on implementation dispute requirements.

Team member in a network telecom dispute involving a telecommunications patent violations, federal and state antitrust and monopolization claims, and various commercial tort claims.

Defense team member for a telecommunications executive in a public service commission investigation seeking personal liability for a regulated entity’s regulatory violations.

Instructor in a tutorial-seminar in New York on the legal requirements and pitfalls concerning cloud-computing.

Advisor on the requirements of the Connect Illinois rural broadband grant program.

Recommended in US Legal 500 for his work in the area of Telecoms and Broadcast – Regulatory, 2023 - 2024

Recipient of the Raymond de Tufo, Jr. Constitutional Law Award for achieving the Highest Scholastic Average in Constitutional Law

Federal Communications Bar Association