Telecommunications, Cable And Broadcast

Womble Carlyle attorneys are experienced in assisting clients in obtaining authorizations for devices under Part 15 of the FCC rules for unlicensed radio communications. Our clients include manufacturers of consumer and business electronics devices requiring certification and how to qualify radio equipment for sale in the United States, as well as with the complex "marketing rules" that govern application of these procedures.
Our lawyers are active before the FCC in policy making proceedings relating to spectrum utilization issues and have represented individual clients and groups within the industry. We also advise individual clients on:

• interpreting the complicated FCC rules that govern spread spectrum products
• preparation of certification applications, both for the FCC and for private telecommunications certification bodies (TCBs)
• responding to technical inquiries
• challenging unfavorable decisions, when necessary.

For products that are subject to "self-certification" procedures, we advise on the testing and record keeping needed to establish compliance. In addition, our lawyers are capable of assisting manufacturers and users of telecommunications equipment and RF-producing devices in navigating the various regulatory regimes created by the FCC. From the creation of compliance programs to pursuing rule waivers for non-compliant devices, the telecommunications group has the experience to make sure that manufacturers can first design and then move their products to market, confident in the fact that there will be no surprises in the form of undiscovered technical requirements of interference complaints.