
About
Linda McReynolds is Of Counsel with the firm practicing primarily in the areas of telecommunications and privacy law. Ms. McReynolds is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US).
Ms. McReynolds counsels clients on issues arising under the Telecommunications Act and federal and state laws addressing privacy and data security. As a practitioner, she recognizes clients’ needs to develop good practices and address compliance with applicable laws while achieving business success in the fast-paced technology and telecommunications sectors.
Drawing on experience in private practice at the nation’s leading law firms, Ms. McReynolds offers counsel to companies in regulatory, appellate, litigation and transactional matters. Ms. McReynolds’ clients have included radio and television broadcast stations and networks, competitive and incumbent local exchange carriers, providers of enhanced communications services and advanced communications and cloud computing applications, wireless providers, equipment manufacturers and others. Ms. McReynolds has also offered pro bono advocacy for non-profit charitable organizations throughout her legal career.
As a Certified Information Privacy Professional, Ms. McReynolds assists clients in developing and implementing of privacy and data security policies, information management programs, and managing risks associated with handling personal information without sacrificing a client’s business goals.
Ms. McReynolds defends clients in investigations and audits by the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau and the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). She obtains state and federal authorizations for local, long distance, international, prepaid and wireless communications services. Ms. McReynolds assists telecommunications service providers and equipment manufacturers with development and implementation of compliance practices and strategies on matters related to disability rights laws, the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA), the FCC’s CPNI rules, E911, Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS), Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) policy, and regulatory taxation and assessment matters. Her advocacy extends to federal rulemaking and other policy proceedings before the Federal Communications Commission.
Ms. McReynolds received a Bachelor of Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts in French, with honors, from the University of Missouri in 1993. In 1997, she earned her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School, where she was the Editor in Chief of the University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform. From 1997 to 1998, she served as a judicial clerk to the Hon. Duane Benton in her home state of Missouri.
Ms. McReynolds is a member of the District of Columbia and Missouri bars and a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US). She belongs to the International Association of Privacy Professionals and the Federal Communications Bar Association.
Representative Experience
- Negotiate and draft data security and privacy provisions in vendor contracts involving Personally Identifiable Information (PII)
- Counsel clients regarding obligations to protect PII in the face of law enforcement requests for access to information
- Develop CALEA policies and manuals, System Security and Integrity (SSI) Plans
- Assist with review, drafting, and negation of Business Associate Agreements under HIPAA
- Advise and assist third party vendors with Graham Leach Bliley Act (GLBA) Safeguards Rule monitoring and oversight
- Draft privacy notices and policies
- Review privacy policies and notices of third parties and underlying vendors and counsel as to management and oversight of business partners to protect consumer information
- Review marketing plans and information collection practices and advise clients about compliance with TCPA and CPNI rules
- Represent competitive telecommunications, enhanced services and interconnected Voice over IP providers before the FCC and state agencies
- Represent television and radio broadcast clients in license and transfer applications and transactions
- Counsel clients on federal and state regulatory requirements and compliance obligations
- Participate in rulemaking, declaratory ruling and other policy proceedings before the FCC
- Defend clients in FCC Enforcement Bureau investigations, including settlement negotiations and consent decrees
- Advise clients on communications taxation and regulatory assessment matters, including applicable state and federal regulatory fees, taxes and other assessments
- Assist clients in audits by regulatory and taxing authorities, including the USF Administrator, USAC
- Perform regulatory audits examining the appropriate classification of IP-enabled and advanced services and advising as to the related regulatory obligations imposed on providers of such services
- Represent broadcast television and radio stations in transactions, regulatory filings, and provide advice concerning FCC compliance obligations
- Advise and represent clients in matters involving Telecommunications Relay Services
- Obtain state and federal authorizations for local, long distance, international, pre-paid, and wireless communications services
- Advise clients regarding mergers/transfers of control and other restructuring and financing transactions and obtain the necessary federal and state regulatory approvals for such transactions
- Advise clients on the regulatory status of emerging communications and Internet services
- Draft pleadings for appellate litigation
Publications
Authored, “Top 5 Tips for Strengthening Your Company’s Cybersecurity and Data Protection Capabilities in 2015,” Featured Article, TMCnet, Jan. 22, 2015
Co-Authored, “Mis-Administration and Misadventures of the Universal Service Fund: A Case Study in the Importance of the Administrative Procedure Act to Government Agency Rulemaking,”CommLaw Conspectus, Journal of Communications Law and Policy, Volume 20, Issue 1, June 2011
Co-Authored, “Universal Service Fund Contributor Audits”, The Prepaid Press, August 2013
Education
Ms. McReynolds received a Bachelor of Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts in French, with honors, from the University of Missouri in 1993. In 1997, she earned her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School, where she was the Editor in Chief of the University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform.
Admissions
Ms. McReynolds is a member of the District of Columbia and Missouri bars. She belongs to the Federal Communications Bar Association.
Practices
- Telecommunications, VoIP, and Advanced
- Communications Taxes and Fees
- Cyber Security and CALEA
- USAC Compliance, Audit Preparation and Defense
- Information Privacy, Data Security and Consumer Protection
- International Telecommunications
- Corporate, Contracts and Commercial Transactions
- Satellite: Land Mobile, Marine and Aero
- Cloud Computing and Communications (SaaS / CaaS / IaaS)
- Wireless Communications and MVNOs
Speaking Engagements
- Privacy & Security in the Trump Era, Webinar (Apr. 6, 2017)
- CPNI Compliance for Communications Service Providers, Webinar (Jan 2016)