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Desktop Image: Galloway, Alan
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Alan Galloway

Counsel

T 503.778.5219 Portland
From drones to data centers, I help clients keep the world connected.
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Alan Galloway's practice centers on building, expanding, and using high-throughput, low-latency networks—whether fiber or wireless—to enable world-changing technologies like cloud-based AI, autonomous drones, and telemedicine, as well as the day-to-day video, data and voice connectivity that keeps the world running. He advises and assists clients to deploy and leverage next-generation network infrastructure to connect customers, datacenters, devices, and drones through land, air and sea. Whether that involves local rights of way, hyperscale datacenters, subsea cables, or 5G wireless technologies, Alan is passionate about meeting clients' objectives, and skilled in navigating regulatory obstacles to achieve great results.

Delivering connectivity for the digital world

Alan Galloway has a decade of experience negotiating agreements and winning approvals to enable clients to meet their connectivity needs. He regularly negotiates connectivity infrastructure contracts such as datacenter leases, fiber IRUs, interconnection and transit agreements, subsea cable rights, and colocation in cable landing stations. He brings deep industry experience and regulatory knowledge to support his clients. He also helps clients achieve funding and regulatory approvals in proceedings before the FCC, state utility commissions, and local governments, and has experience challenging unlawful decisions and regulations at the FCC and in state and federal courts.

Alan is a technology enthusiast who understands that laws and regulations create pitfalls for innovative technology providers and investors. He helps clients stay current on new regulations (e.g., changing service classifications) while looking out for existing regulations (e.g., telecom licensing requirements and regulatory fees) can ensnare clients in the connectivity infrastructure space.

Practice Highlights

Deployment of broadband infrastructure

Advising clients on municipal regulations and fees on communications infrastructure and services–including wireline and wireless broadband. He achieves favorable results for clients with respect to pole attachment agreements, negotiating cable and telecommunications franchises, and license agreements, as well as working to address concerns with municipal right-of-way rules, design standards, and other local restrictions.

Cloud infrastructure

Negotiating agreements to procure advanced telecommunications and colocation resources critical to meeting clients' goals concerning the provision of cloud services, including negotiating agreements governing long-term dark fiber leases and IRUs, interconnection, and provision of lit services.

Emerging technologies & AI

Helping companies navigate regulatory obstacles concerning deploying autonomous drones and other devices in the mobile IoT space, providing informed and creative advice to overcome regulatory hurdles to achieve strategic goals. He has authored thought leadership pieces on the legal implications of artificial intelligence.

Franchise agreements for telecommunications and cable providers

Assisting clients in negotiating both cable and telecommunications franchises with various local franchising authorities, as well as in addressing issues concerning municipal communications ordinances, fees for use of municipal rights of way, and delivery of new services over existing facilities. Successfully worked to obtain or renew franchises in Oregon, Washington, and Michigan for several clients. (2011-present)

Regulatory advice on drone operations

Advising clients on federal and state/local regulations applicable to commercial unmanned aircraft systems (aka "drone") operations, including counseling and preparation of charts summarizing state-level regulations on drone operations.

Negotiating agreements for fiber, capacity, and colocation space

Drafting and negotiating agreements for various clients to obtain telecommunications capacity, colocation space, dark fiber, and other broadband services in various jurisdictions in the U.S. and internationally.

Lifeline service issues for national wireless carriers

Representing clients in obtaining designation authority to provide lifeline service to low-income individuals in states across the country. Successfully worked to obtain, maintain, or expand ETC designation for clients in multiple jurisdictions including California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Texas, and Utah. (2009-present)

Couey v. Atkins

Argued before the Oregon Supreme Court, representing the ACLU of Oregon as amicus curiae in an important case interpreting the Oregon Constitution, leading up to the court’s decision to overrule its decision in Yancy v. Shatzer and recognize that it has jurisdiction to hear certain moot cases, including those that are capable of repetition, yet evading review. (2014-2015)
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Admitted to Practice

  • Oregon

Education

  • J.D., University of California, Berkeley School of Law, 2008
    • Order of the Coif
    • Certificate in Law & Technology, Berkeley Center for Law and Technology, 2008
    • John Stauffer Memorial Merit Scholarship
    • Jurisprudence Award (first in class): Constitutional Law, 2007; Contract Theory, 2006; Contracts, 2005
    • Senior Annual Review Editor & Submissions Editor, Berkeley Technology Law Journal
  • Ph.D., Philosophy, Duke University, 2002
  • B.A., Philosophy, Whittier College, 1994, summa cum laude

Memberships & Affiliations

    • Adjunct Professor, Telecommunications Law, Lewis & Clark Law School, 2022
    • Member and former Chair, Oregon State Bar Energy, Telecom & Utility Law Section
    • Chair, Oregon Association of Defense Counsel Commercial Practice Group, 2016
    • Board Member; Youth, Rights, and Justice, 2015-2022
    • Member, Federal Communications Bar Association, 2014-2022
    • Co-chair, Multnomah Bar Association Equality & Diversity Committee, 2013-2014
    • Publications Liaison, Oregon Association of Defense Counsel, 2011-2013

Professional Recognition

    • Davis Wright Tremaine Heart of Justice Award, 2012

Background

    • Legal Intern, Electronic Frontier Foundation, San Francisco
    • Summer Associate, Day Casebeer Madrid & Batchelder, Cupertino, Calif.
    • Judicial Extern, Hon. Jeremy Fogel, U.S. District Court, San Jose, Calif.
    • Senior Programmer/Analyst, Openwave Systems, Redwood City, Calif.
    • Manager/Software Engineer, Knight Ridder Digital, San Jose, Calif.
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