Related Practices

Admitted to Practice

U.S. Supreme Court
District of Columbia, 1993
U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals D.C. Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit
U.S. District Court District of Columbia

T. Scott Thompson

Partner

Download vCard

Washington, D.C.

T202.973.4208

F202.973.4499

Scott Thompson lobbies, negotiates, and litigates on behalf of telecommunications industry clients before the FCC, state public service commissions, local governments, and the courts. He has successfully litigated numerous cases to protect the rights of communications providers to deploy their networks and facilities. Scott works with leading communications companies to develop national deployment and regulatory strategies. He is experienced in a variety of matters, from commercial and regulatory disputes to access issues to policy, regulatory and competition matters.

Scott's clients include: Comcast, NextG Networks, the New England Cable Telecommunications Association, and T-Mobile.

Representative Experience

Implementation of Section 224 of the Act; Amendment of the Commission's Rules and Policies Governing Pole Attachments for NextG Networks, Inc.

Represent distributed antenna system (DAS) provider submitting comments in rulemaking regarding FCC policies and rules governing utility pole attachment rates, terms and conditions. WC Docket No. 07-245 (F.C.C. Ongoing) Read more

National wireless carrier

Representation of a national wireless carrier before various local governments on matters relating to local regulation of wireless facility siting. (Ongoing)

NextG Networks of Cal., Inc. v. City of Huntington Beach

Lead counsel for distributed antenna system (DAS) operator, NextG, in federal and state court litigation challenging municipal regulation of wireless deployment in public rights of way. SACV 07-1471 ABC (RNBx) (C.D. Cal. Ongoing) Read more

Telecommunications regulatory for multiple DAS providers

Represent DAS providers in obtaining state regulatory authority certificates in more than 30 states. (Ongoing)

Dianet Communications v. City of New York et al.

Successfully defended case challenging the City of New York's grant of a franchise to our client, NextG Networks. (2009)

NextG Networks of NY, Inc. v. RCN Communications

Represented NextG in complaint against telecommunications provider, RCN, for denial of access to underground conduits in Massachusetts. (2009)

Sprint Telephony PCS v. San Diego County

Filed amicus curiae brief on behalf of NextG Networks and The DAS Forum in support of petition for certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court and during 9th Circuit rehearing en banc, addressing the application of Section 253 of the Communications Act to county wireless zoning requirements. (2009) Read more

Telecommunications regulatory for NextG Networks, Inc.

Represent DAS provider NextG Networks in obtaining federal, state and local regulatory approvals for corporate change of control. (2009)

Wireless zoning for national wireless carrier

Lead counsel for a national wireless carrier in precedent-setting wireless siting litigation before the 9th Circuit and District Court. Successfully obtained District Court order finding city’s denial of the client's wireless siting application violated Section 332(c)(7) of the federal Communications Act, and obtained order of 9th Circuit affirming District Court. (2008-2009) Read more

CTIA v. Federal Communications Commission

Represented telecommunications provider in successful D.C. Circuit appeal of FCC decision imposing back-up power requirements on all telephone company and wireless facilities. Nos. 07-1475, 07-1477, 07-1480 (D.C. Cir. 2008) Read more

NextG Networks of NY, Inc. v. City of New York

Lead counsel for NextG in federal court challenge to City of New York franchise and regulation of wireless deployment in public rights of way. Including successful 2nd Circuit appeal reversing District Court grant of summary judgment to defendant city on NextG's claims that the city's franchise requirements violate Section 253 of the federal Communications Act. Pending on remand at the District Court. 513 F.3d 49 (2d Cir. 2008) Read more

In re Application of Verizon Virginia, Inc. for Retail Services Deregulation and Detariffing

Represented competitive carrier in opposition to Verizon deregulation request. Case No. PUC-2007-00008 (Va. SCC 2007)

NextG Networks of Calif., Inc. v. County of Los Angeles

Order granting preliminary injunction prohibiting defendant county from enforcing its wireless zoning code against NextG on the grounds that the code is pre-empted by Section 253 of the Federal Communications Act. 522 F. Supp. 2d 1240 (C.D. Cal. 2007) Read more

Office of Consumer Council v. Southern New England Tel. Co.

Order granting plaintiff's summary judgment; establishing that AT&T video programming service is cable service and that AT&T is a 'cable operator' providing service over a 'cable system' subject to franchising requirements applicable under the Federal Cable Act. (Vacated on mootness grounds after new legislation applied new franchise requirements to AT&T.) 515 F. Supp. 2d 269 (D. Conn. 2007) Read more

NextG Networks of Calif., Inc. v. City of San Francisco

Order granting judgment and permanent injunction for NextG, pre-empting pursuant to Section 253 of federal Communications Act the defendant city's requirements for deployment of wireless facilities in public rights-of-way. 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 36101 at *11-12 (Patel, J.) (9th Cir. 2006)

Level 3 Communications v. City of Prichard

Federal district court action under Section 253 challenging municipal right-of-way franchise requirement and franchise fees. Civil Action No. 03-248-P-C (2003)

Professional & Community Activities

Advisory Board, Pike and Fischer’s “Telecom Land Management Law Report” and "Communications Environmental and Land Use Law Report"
Forum on Communications Law, American Bar Association
Federal Communications Bar Association
Advocacy Committee, PCIA DAS Forum, 2007-present

Professional Recognition

Selected for the Client Choice Awards, International Law Office, 2012-2013

Education

J.D., The George Washington University Law School, 1993, with honors
- Notes Editor, The George Washington Journal of International Law and Economics
B.A., English, University of Florida, 1989