Related Practices

Admitted to Practice

District of Columbia, 1978
U.S. Supreme Court, 1986
U.S. Court of Appeals D.C. Circuit, 1979
U.S. Court of Appeals 1st Circuit, 1979
U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 2008
U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 1985
U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1984
U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit, 1991
U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1984

Paul Glist

Partner

Download vCard

Washington, D.C.

T202.973.4220

F202.973.4420

Paul Glist concentrates on the areas of cable television, communications, media, telecommunications, privacy and security, and information technology. Since 1978 he has worked with major cable companies and cable associations on legal, regulatory and strategic issues that have emerged as the industry has developed. Paul has been involved in many groundbreaking efforts in telecommunications and cable law and has helped develop the legislation, regulation and case law impacting these industries. He was the first practicing lawyer to receive the Vanguard Award, the most prestigious award presented by the National Cable and Telecommunications Association.

Paul’s clients include: Cable Television Laboratories (CableLabs), Charter Communications, Comcast, National Cable & Telecommunications Association and Time Warner Cable.

Paul is a member of the firm's executive committee.

Representative Experience

Innovative approaches to energy efficiency in the cable industry

Assisted all major cable, satellite and telephone providers in creating a 2013 comprehensive national voluntary energy efficiency agreement, to address concerns over the energy consumption of communications and IP equipment. The initiative is designed to conserve energy more rapidly, flexibly, and effectively than regulatory approaches and provide the continued opportunity for rapid innovation. (Ongoing)

Cable regulation for cable multiple system operators (MSOs) and NCTA

Cable regulation, including rates, copyright and signal carriage, franchising, the 1984 and 1992 Cable Acts, the 1996 Telecommunications Act, state telecommunications legislation, digital rights management, pole attachments and privacy. (Ongoing) Read more

Expert witness for cable MSOs and state cable and telecommunications associations

Frequently appears as an expert witness before State Public Service Commissions, state legislatures and in court on a variety of cable telecommunications matters, such as rates, overbuilds, poles and access to Internet services. (Ongoing)

IP video and digital media for various MSOs and vendors

Advice on operational, regulatory, franchising, programming, security, copy protection and interface requirements for delivery of commercial video content to tablets, 'Smart TVs,' IP-enabled devices, and home networks. (Ongoing)

Navigation devices for National Cable & Telecommunications Association, CableLabs, Charter

The Federal Communications Commission is engaged in several proceedings to define the technical and business interfaces between multichannel networks, home domains, and consumer navigation, recording, and display devices. We have been assisting the National Cable & Telecommunications Association and others in the cable industry in the development of the technical vision and architecture, pleadings, and regulatory strategy before the Federal Communications Commission. (Ongoing)

Next-generation downloadable security for cable MSOs

Assisted a major cable television company in developing and deploying an innovative system of next-generation downloadable security. He previously structured the architecture, governance, licensing and other contracts required for the Polycipher security architecture. (Ongoing)

Privacy requirements for advanced advertising platforms for interactive and advanced advertising vendors, cable MSOs

Development of 'privacy by design' architectures and practices to meet federal, state and business privacy requirements for advanced advertising platforms. Representing a co-venture of major cable television operators in building a national platform for advanced advertising. Representation in privacy inquiries at FTC, Department of Commerce privacy 'Green Paper,' developing federal privacy and data security legislation. (Ongoing)

Public service commission testimony for New England Cable Television Association

Provided expert testimony in Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control proceeding regarding electric utility proposed pole attachment rents and best practices for terms and conditions of contract. (Ongoing)

Public service commission testimony for fiber network

Provided expert testimony to New Jersey public service commission regarding best practices in makeready and construction to advance fiber networks. (2012)

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

Cable diversification to non-video services for cable MSOs, state cable and telecommunications associations

Obtained the first FCC and court rulings allowing cable television operators to deliver telecommunications without losing their favorable status as 'cable'.

Cable reorganizations for cable MSO

Designed and executed the complex process for obtaining necessary regulatory consents to Chapter 11 reorganization of a major cable television operator involving the Federal Communications Commission, State Public Service Commissions, and more than 3,000 local and state cable franchises.

Cable services to PCs for cable MSOs, NCTA, CableLabs

Negotiation of the cable industry agreement with Microsoft to deliver cable services securely to PCs.

Cable television and telecommunications law and policy for cable MSOs, NCTA, and state cable and telecommunications associations

Since 1978, working with major cable companies and cable associations on legal, regulatory, and strategic issues that have emerged as the industry has developed.

Cybersecurity for cable MSOs

Consultation with federal security agencies on network and supply chain security.

Deployment of broadband and voice offerings for cable MSOs, NCTA, state cable and telecommunications associations

Facilitated the economical deployment of coax, and then fiber, by successfully resisting pole attachment overcharges and abuses through key cases at the FCC and in the U.S. Courts of Appeal and the U.S. Supreme Court. Read more

National technology platform for interactive television for cable MSOs, NCTA, CableLabs

Negotiation of the multi-industry contract and licensing for delivering interactive 'Tru2way' digital television through common middleware.

Network neutrality for cable MSOs

Engaged in a Federal Communications Commission rulemaking concerning 'network neutrality' rules for Internet service providers, including nondiscrimination obligations, limits on network management techniques, and disclosure requirements. Representing major cable television companies to help shape these complex regulations which affect network operations, the business relations between the 'edge' and core of the Internet, and innovation. Assisting MSOs with new net neutrality 'transparency' notices.

'Plug-and-play' regulations and technology licensing agreements for cable MSOs, NCTA, CableLabs

Facilitated the negotiations between the cable industry and the consumer electronics and IT industries, leading to the FCC's 'plug-and-play' regulations and technology licensing agreements with the consumer electronics industry. Handled rulemaking comments and ex partes leading to FCC revision of its 'CableCARD' bundling, and set-top output rules in 2010. Handled FCC Notice of Inquiry comments and ex partes concerning 'AllVid' proposal. Assisting MSOs with new CableCARD notices.

Pole attachments for cable MSOs, NCTA

Handled rulemaking comments and ex partes leading to FCC revision of its pole attachment rules in 2011 to provide pole attachment rate parity between telecommunications providers and cable operators and to establish new rules to expedite makeready. Outcome upheld by DC Circuit in 2013.

Re-regulation under the 1992 Cable Act for cable MSOs, NCTA

Part of the NCTA legal team to steer the industry through re-regulation under the 1992 Cable Act.

Set-top box litigation for cable MSOs

Provided advice to litigation counsel on set-top box and navigation device technologies and market.

State 'level-playing field' franchise law for state cable and telecommunications associations

Along with the Florida Cable Telecommunications Association team, negotiated and wrote the first state 'level-playing field' franchise law.

Additional Qualifications

Partner, Cole, Raywid & Braverman LLP, Washington, D.C., 1984-2006
Attorney, Hogan & Hartson LLP, 1978-1984

Professional & Community Activities

American Bar Association
Federal Communications Bar Association
Tower Club, Southern Cable Telecommunications Association
Chairman, Board of Directors, Tahirih Justice Center
Chairman, Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Alexandria, Va.
Former Board Member, Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington
Former Secretary, City of Alexandria Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Planning Committee

Professional Recognition

Named as one of "America's Leading Lawyers for Business" in Telecom – Broadcast & Satellite: Regulatory (District of Columbia) by Chambers USA, 2008-2012
Selected to "Washington D.C. Super Lawyers" in Communications and Information Technology/Outsourcing, Thomson Reuters, 2010, 2013
Vanguard Award, National Cable & Telecommunications Association, 2006
Inductee, Cable Pioneers, 2004
Tower Club, Southern Cable Telecommunications Association, 1989
John R. Calvetti Memorial Award, Cable Telecommunications Association of Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia, 2001
President’s Award, Cable Telecommunications Association of Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia, 1990