Russell is among the most experienced wireless communications attorneys in the country. Unique among his peers, Russell assists clients on federal legislative, regulatory, and transactional matters. He analyzes legislation on behalf of clients, participates in proceedings before the FCC and other federal agencies, negotiates spectrum agreements, and represents wireless providers in spectrum auctions. He is also frequently consulted on matters involving US spectrum use and policy.
Whether they are in the middle of a transaction with difficult regulatory issues, working with Congress on legislative drafting, or securing critical operational authority, clients value Russell’s accessibility and ability to find creative solutions. He works with major telecommunications providers, trade associations, equipment manufacturers, public safety organizations, and entrepreneurs proposing new products or services.
Russell provides advice to all participants in the robocall/robotext ecosystem. He assists those that make calls, such as health care providers, utilities and vendors on how to structure messaging campaign. He also provides guidance on the appropriate wording for terms and conditions accepted by call recipients. He also counsels communications providers on call handling, including call blocking obligations.
Before joining the firm, Russell was a partner and head of the telecommunications department in the Washington office of a major Chicago-based law firm, where he represented users and providers of telecommunications services and equipment. Previously, he was the executive director and president of the American SMR Network Association, Inc., where he established offices of a national trade association representing a segment of the wireless telecommunications industry.
Education
- Duke University (JD)
- University of Rochester (BA)
Experience
Transactions
- Represented Straight Path Communications, as it entered into a historic Consent Decree with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in its merger with Verizon Communications Inc. The Consent Decree permitted Straight Path to retain its most high-value FCC licenses in the face of an FCC investigation into potential rule violations. As a result of the Consent Decree, Straight Path was able to enter into an agreement with Verizon for $3.1 billion in value.
Legislative
- Advised CTIA, the national wireless trade association in the eventual adoption of the TRACED Act, which mandates that communications providers take actions to prevent illegal robocalls.
FCC Regulation
- Serve as primary outside counsel to Wi-Fi Alliance on FCC regulatory matters. Help spearhead efforts to make an additional 1200 megahertz of spectrum available for Wi-Fi, a significant increase in spectrum capacity.
- Assisted Trimble Inc., a major manufacturer of GPS equipment, challenge grant of a license to an entity that proposes a service in adjacent frequency spectrum that would threaten the reception of GPS signals.
- Successfully negotiated a consent decree with the FCC under which Radwin, a manufacturer of advanced telecommunications equipment, was able to pay a modest forfeiture penalty and implement a compliance program. Radwin marketed equipment in the U.S. in a manner inconsistent with the FCC's rules.
- Assisted T-Mobile in urging the adoption of rules governing the so-called "C-band" which was subsequently auctioned and generated more revenues than any other FCC auction.
Recognition & Awards
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent
- Best Lawyers in America: Communications Law (2019 – 2022)
- Recommended by the Legal 500 United States for Telecom & Broadcast: Regulatory (2017 – 2021)
Involvement
- Member, Federal Communications Bar Association
- Fellow, Radio Club of America
Recent Insights
Viewpoints
Monthly TCPA Digest — April 2022
April 25, 2022 |Article
TCPA Regulatory Update — FCC Enforcement Bureau Proposes Record Fine Against Robocaller
March 21, 2022 |Article
News & Press
Events
Viewpoints
Monthly TCPA Digest — April 2022
April 25, 2022 | Article | By Russell Fox, Joshua Briones, Jonathan P. Garvin, Crystal Lopez
TCPA Regulatory Update — FCC Partners with More States, Sends More Cease & Desist Letters, Clarifies Safe Harbors, and Responds to Congressional Queries
April 25, 2022 | Article | By Russell Fox, Jonathan P. Garvin
TCPA Regulatory Update — FCC Enforcement Bureau Proposes Record Fine Against Robocaller
March 21, 2022 | Article | By Russell Fox, Jonathan P. Garvin
Monthly TCPA Digest — March 2022
March 21, 2022 | Article | By Russell Fox, Joshua Briones, Jonathan P. Garvin, Esteban Morales
TCPA Regulatory Update — FCC Announces New State-Federal Partnerships to Combat Robocalls
March 21, 2022 | Article | By Russell Fox, Jonathan P. Garvin
TCPA Regulatory Update — Chairwoman Rosenworcel Circulates Declaratory Ruling on Ringless Voicemails
February 22, 2022 | Article | By Russell Fox, Jonathan P. Garvin
Monthly TCPA Digest — February 2022
February 22, 2022 | Article | By Russell Fox, Joshua Briones, Jonathan P. Garvin, Adam B. Korn, Esteban Morales
TCPA Regulatory Update — FCC Enforcement Bureau Sends More Cease-And-Desist Letters
February 22, 2022 | Article | By Russell Fox, Jonathan P. Garvin
Monthly TCPA Digest — January 2022
January 21, 2022 | Article | By Russell Fox, Joshua Briones, Jonathan P. Garvin, Esteban Morales, Matthew Novian
TCPA Regulatory Update — Commission Issues Clarification on “No Data” Reports from Reassigned Numbers Database
January 21, 2022 | Article | By Russell Fox, Jonathan P. Garvin
News & Press
Mintz Practice Groups and Attorneys Garner Top Rankings in 2020 Edition of The Legal 500 United States
June 12, 2020
Mintz Attorney Russell H. Fox to Speak at 2013 mHealth Summit
December 09, 2013
Events
Robocalling and Robotexts: What Consent is Necessary and Recent Changes in FCC Regulation
MyLawCLE
Virtual Event