James (Jim) Baller represents clients across the U.S. in a broad range of communications matters including high-capacity broadband network projects, public-private broadband partnerships, telecommunications, wireless facility siting, right-of-way management, pole and conduit attachments, and barriers to community broadband initiatives.
Jim was the founder and president of the U.S. Broadband Coalition, a diverse group of more than 160 communications service providers, high technology companies, labor unions, public interest and consumer groups, state and local government entities, utilities, charitable institutions, and other organizations. The Coalition fostered a broad national consensus on the need for a national broadband strategy and recommended the framework that was subsequently reflected in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) National Broadband Plan. Jim is also the co-founder and president of the Coalition for Local Internet Choice, an alliance of more than 600 organizations and individuals that works to prevent or remove barriers to the ability of local governments to make the critical broadband infrastructure decisions that affect their communities.
Jim advises clients in numerous matters involving complex factual, legal, and policy issues. He collaborates with legal, financial, accounting, engineering, and other technical experts to assist state, regional, and local government entities in making comprehensive telecommunications plans, establishing state-of-the-art communications systems, developing strategic partnerships, and integrating right-of-way and zoning ordinances, franchises, licenses, pole-attachment agreements, contracts, forms, permits and other related documents.
More Legal and Business Bylines From Jim Baller
- Telecom Alert: Keller and Heckman LLP’s Telecommunications Practice Group New Year Predictions [Vol. XXI, Issue 1] - (Posted On Wednesday, February 07, 2024)
- Telecom Alert: SIM Swap Petition Pleading Cycle; 24 GHz Rules Pleading Cycle; AMTS Rule Waivers; Digital Discrimination Pleading Cycle [Vol. XXI, Issue 6] - (Posted On Monday, February 05, 2024)
- Telecom Alert: Robocall Mitigation Database Filings; DIRS Reporting Obligations; 70/80/90 GHz Rules; CMRS Location-Based Routing Rules [Vol. XXI, Issue 5] - (Posted On Monday, January 29, 2024)
- Telecom Alert: BDC Challenge Process Comments; SIM Swap Rules Petition; Pole Attachment Rules Petition; Section 214 Foreign Ownership Filing Deadline [Vol. XXI, Issue 4] - (Posted On Monday, January 22, 2024)
- Telecom Alert: ACP Winding Down; Reconsideration of Outage Reporting Rules; Pole Attachment Comment Deadline; GMRS Rule Waiver Comment Deadline [Vol. XXI, Issue 3] - (Posted On Tuesday, January 16, 2024)
- Telecom Alert: NTIA Releases BEAD Program Guidance; FCC Proposes DIRS Rule Changes; FCC Proposes 70/80/90 GHz Rule Changes; BDC Filing Window Open [Vol. XXI, Issue 2] - (Posted On Monday, January 08, 2024)
- Telecom Alert: TracFone Settles for $23.5 Million; FCC Extends BDC Waiver; FCC Extends Rip-and-Replace Deadlines; FCC Warns Nine Pirate Radio Operators [Vol. XX, Issue 49] - (Posted On Wednesday, December 27, 2023)
- Telecom Alert: $1.2 Million Fine Proposed; Cell Phone Enforcement Advisory; Data Breach Notification Rules; Pole Attachment Rules; USF Contribution Factor; $450k in ECF Funding [Vol. XX, Issue 51] - (Posted On Monday, December 18, 2023)
- Telecom Alert: $22 Million in Fines for RDOF Defaults; Comment Deadlines for Wi-Fi Hotspot NPRM; New DIRS Version Announced; C-Band Submission Deadlines [Vol. XX, Issue 50] - (Posted On Monday, December 11, 2023)
- Telecom Alert: E-Rate Wi-Fi Hotspot NPRM; USAC USF Procedures; School Bus Wi-Fi Comment Deadline Extended; ACP Data Collection Deadline Extended [Vol. XX, Issue 46] - (Posted On Monday, November 13, 2023)
The National Law Review selected the Telecommunications Practice Group at Keller and Heckman as a Go-To Thought Leader for 2021 for its coverage of legislation and regulation involving the telecommunications industry. Of particular note is its frequent updates on telecommunications policy and regulations through its Telecom Alert, which breaks down the latest news affecting the industry. Keller and Heckman authors who contribute regularly to the Telecom Alerts include Jaimy “Sindy” Alarcon, James Baller, Jason P. Chun, Timothy A. Doughty, Michael T. N. Fitch, C. Douglas Jarrett, Gregory E. Kunkle, Casey Lide, Thomas B. Magee, Tracy P. Marshall, Kathleen Slattery Thompson, Sean A. Stokes and Wesley K. Wright.