Ronald E. Quirk, Jr
Senior Managing Attorney
t. (703) 714-1305
f. (703) 563-6222
About
Ronald E. Quirk, Jr. is Head of The CommLaw Group’s Internet of Things & Connected Devices Practice Group. Mr. Quirk’s career spans more than 20 years, including several years at AMLAW 100 firms and the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”). He has successfully represented clients ranging from small proprietorships to Fortune 500 corporations in matters before the FCC, Department of Justice (“DoJ”), Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), Department of Transportation (“DoT”), Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), state public utility commissions (“PUCs”), international regulatory entities, and state and federal courts.
Mr. Quirk’s focuses his practice on a variety of legal and regulatory matters that are of particular importance to Internet of Things (“IoT”) businesses seeking to solidify and expand their markets, including: spectrum procurement; privacy and cybersecurity; 5G infrastructure siting and related smart city issues; autonomous vehicle regulatory requirements; radiofrequency (“RF”) equipment testing, compliance, marketing and importation (both in the U.S. and overseas); digital signage regulatory requirements; RF equipment experimental licensing; commercial wireless technology standards; E911 and other public safety requirements; and broadband deployment to commercial and residential buildings.
Representative Experience
- Advising RF equipment manufacturers, importers, and vendors on the most efficient means of ensuring compliance with U.S. and international regulatory requirements in their advertising, marketing and distribution practices, as well as testing, regulatory classification, and authorization procedures
- Representing clients in federal rulemaking proceedings to protect them from the encroachment of government overreach, streamline existing regulations, and preserve their access to 5G spectrum
- Assisting commercial businesses, including the hospitality industry, on wireless broadband & private network deployment
- Defending clients in all phases of FCC Enforcement Bureau proceedings, safeguarding clients’ rights when the FCC alleges rule violations
- Advising clients on Congressional and state actions, as well as DoT proceedings, in the ever-changing autonomous vehicle regulatory environment
- Advocating on behalf of clients in FCC formal and informal complaint proceedings
- Representing clients before the FCC and DoJ in merger proceedings, focusing on antitrust and FCC license transfer matters
- Defending clients in notice and audit proceedings before the Universal Service Administrative Company (“USAC”)
- Representing clients in negotiating and drafting of spectrum sharing agreements
- Assisting clients in gaining access to necessary infrastructure, such as rights-of-way, utility poles and conduits, commercial buildings, and wireless structures
- Advising clients on compliance with FCC Customer Proprietary Network Information (“CPNI”) rules and assisting with implementation of CPNI compliance plans
- Assisting clients in FCC spectrum auction proceedings
- Representing clients in federal rule waiver and Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) proceedings
- Obtaining federal and international authorizations for wireless & satellite services
Publications
Mr. Quirk has published several articles and white papers on various topical telecommunications issues, including: FCC compliance, spectrum auctions, wireless telecommunications tax, unlicensed telecommunications, state and federal privacy laws, equipment authorization and marketing, and bankruptcy.
- Author: “Maintaining HIPAA Compliance While Preparing for HIPAA Audits,” Health IT Security, June 24, 2015;
- “Much Ado About Spectrum,” Wireless Design and Development, May 2008;
- “Open Access at 700 MHz: Opening Doors for Mobile Devices,” Wireless Design and Development, January 2008;
- “The DTV Transition: Unlimited Equipment Opportunities,” Wireless Design and Development, July 2007;
- “Unlicensed Communications Products and the FCC: Deploy Carefully – the Network you save could be your Own,” Wireless Design and Development, February 2007;
- “Barcodes on Steroids; The Perceived Mandatory Microchip Implant Threat and Other Reasons for RFID Privacy Laws,” Techlink, August 2006;
- “FCC Compliance Challenges,” RFID Journal, May 25, 2006; “Don’t Get Behind the Regulatory Eight-Ball,” RFID Journal, April 11, 2005;
- “FTC Doesn’t Want to Get Involved in Rulemaking for now, Neither Do GOP Senators,” RFID Operations, May 2005;
- “Regulatory Roundup” Monthly Column, RFID Operations, April 2005 – August 2005;
- “RFID: Rapid Implementation and Regulatory Challenges,” White Paper, Venable LLP, January 2005;
- “Preventing a Haven for Wrongdoers, The Regulatory Exemption to Bankruptcy’s Automatic Stay,” The Bankruptcy Strategist, March 2003;
- “States’ Mobile Tax Rules: Creating Order Out of Chaos?” State and Local Communications Report, December 7, 2001;
- “Internet Access Providers: Common or Uncommon Carriers?” FCC Report, April 9, 1997;
- “Republicans Urge Broadcast Deregulation” Radio Ink, January 2, 1995;
- “Creative MCI Uses Marketing, Courts to Carve Out Market Shares,” Washington Telecom News, April 25, 1994;
- “Professors Trade Views on Constitutionality of Brooks Bill,” Telephone Week, June 8, 1992.
- Executive Editor, Frequency (Venable LLP’s telecommunications law and policy newsletter) 2003-2008; Wavelength (Alston & Bird LLP’s telecommunications law and policy newsletter) 2001-2003
Education
Mr. Quirk is a graduate with distinction from George Mason University(1988), and he earned his Juris Doctorate from Catholic University School of Law in 1994, where he also earned a Certificate from the Institute for Communications Law Studies. While at Catholic, Mr. Quirk was Lead Article Editor for the communications legal journal, CommLaw Conspectus.
Admissions
Mr. Quirk is a member of the Federal Communications Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He is licensed to practice in Virginia and the District of Columbia.
Practices
- Internet of Things & Connected Devices
- Telecommunications, VoIP, and Advanced Communications Services
- Satellite: Land Mobile, Marine and Aero
- Internet Law & E-Commerce
- International Telecommunications
- Corporate, Contracts and Commercial Transactions
- Broadband Networks and Internet Applications
- Cloud Computing and Communications (SaaS / CaaS / IaaS)
- Wireless Communications and MVNOs
