Charles R. Naftalin, a partner of Holland & Knight, practices in the area of telecommunications law. Mr. Naftalin is experienced in interexchange, local exchange and international telecommunications services providers via fiber optic cable, microwave and satellite radio, commercial television and radio broadcasters, non-profit public interest groups, mobile marine radio common carriers and state and municipal governments. He has advised and represented clients in such matters as:
Radio and Television Broadcasting
- 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 FCC applications;
- Advice concerning compliance with regulatory requirements, including: ownership issues, equal employment opportunity matters, political broadcasting, station operations, issue responsive and children's programming and renewals of license;
- Representation of clients in various broadcast-related FCC rulemaking proceedings.
Interexchange, local exchange and international telephone operations
- Domestic and international regulation of telephone companies by the Federal Communications Commission, including jurisdictional cost separations and accounting, operator services, tariffs, rate regulation, operating agreements, carrier practices and interconnection agreements;
- Preparation and prosecution of applications for new services and facilities, involving matters before the Federal Communications Commission, the Department of State and INTELSAT, including domestic and international satellite and fiber optic cable facilities;
- Advice to state and municipal governments interested in developing or enhancing cable television, telephone, digital, public safety and broadband telecommunications services and infrastructures.
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, compliance with tariff and ratemaking requirements, common carrier practices, procedures and discrimination, broadcast and other telecommunications contract issues, preparation and defense of witnesses, and local exchange carrier special and switched access rates;
- Representation of clients before the United States Courts of Appeals reviewing orders of the Federal Communications Commission; and
- 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, including: the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters, the National Association of Broadcasters, the National Broadcast Association for Community Affairs, and the Alaska Telephone Association.
In the community, Mr. Naftalin has devoted time to educational institutions. Among them, he led fund raising efforts for the Charles Wright Academy and served as a Maryland area representative for The Hill School. He is counsel to the National Broadcast Association for Community Affairs, a national nonprofit group which promotes public interest radio and television broadcasting, often in partnership with such organizations as the Ad Council and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.