Charles R. Naftalin

Charles R. Naftalin is a Washington, D.C.-based attorney whose practice primarily focuses on telecommunications law. He is a co-leader of the Public Policy & Regulation Group's Telecommunications Team. Mr. Naftalin has broad experience throughout this industry, including with commercial television and radio broadcasters, non-commercial broadcasters, interexchange, local exchange and international telecommunications services providers via fiber optic cable, microwave and satellite, nonprofit public interest groups, mobile marine radio common carriers and state and municipal governments. Mr. Naftalin, who has extensive experience with family-owned businesses, advises and represents clients in many ways, including the following:

Radio and Television Broadcasting

• Mergers, Acquisitions and other Transactions: All aspects of radio and television station acquisitions and sales, including complex transactions, mergers and financing in addition to the preparation and prosecution of necessary Federal Communications Commission (FCC) applications
• Programming Distribution: Extensive Experience in the negotiation and drafting of "traditional" network affiliation and retransmission consent agreements for distribution of broadcast content across all multichannel video programming distributors, along with programming distribution across "emerging" technologies, such as "over the top" internet and "TV Everywhere," including IP distribution, such as ASTC 3.0
• FCC Regulation: Advice concerning compliance with all FCC regulatory requirements, including: ownership issues and reporting, equal employment opportunity (EEO) matters, political broadcasting, other forms of content regulation, station operations, issue responsive and children's programming, renewals of license, Emergency Alert System (EAS), closed captioning, accessibility, preparation of FCC applications and reports, and representation of clients in various FCC proceedings, including enforcement, investigations, trial-type hearings and rulemakings

Interexchange, Local Exchange and International Telephone Operations

• Telephony: Domestic and international regulation of telephone companies by the FCC, including jurisdictional cost separations and accounting, operator services, tariffs, rate regulation, operating agreements, carrier practices and interconnection agreements
• FCC Regulation: Preparation and prosecution of applications for new services and facilities, such as under Section 214, involving matters before the FCC, the U.S. Department of State and "Team Telecom," including domestic and international satellite and fiber optic cable facilities
• Infrastructure: Advice to private entities and to state and municipal governments interested in developing or enhancing broadband telecommunications services and infrastructures, cable television, telephone, private radio, digital and public safety, including infrastructure agreements

Litigation

• Representation of clients before the FCC and the federal courts with respect to formal complaint proceedings and trial-type hearings concerning such matters as: renewal of broadcast station license, EEO and EEO audits, compliance with tariff and ratemaking requirements, common carrier practices, procedures and discrimination, broadcast and other telecommunications contract issues, and extensive background relevant to "net neutrality"
• Preparation of witnesses (fact or expert) with respect to their testimony concerning telecommunications-related matters before the FCC and courts
• Representation of clients before the U.S. Courts of Appeals reviewing orders of the FCC
• Expert witness concerning various aspects of FCC regulation of broadcasters and interstate common carriers

Mr. Naftalin is the Holland & Knight leader for the telecommunications practice group. He regularly speaks at professional conferences and provides continuing legal education on aspects of the telecommunications.

Mr. Naftalin has devoted time to educational institutions and has provided pro bono legal support to active duty military personnel.