William K. Keane
Partner
Duane Morris LLP
505 9th Street, N.W., Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20004-2166
USA
Phone: +1 202 776 5243
Fax: +1 202 478 2160
Email:
KKeane@duanemorris.com
William K. (Ken) Keane practices in the area of telecommunications law and policy. His practice focuses on the representation of clients in radio spectrum policy and transactional matters. For example, he counsels broadcast and industrial clients on FCC compliance issues; prepares license applications and other filings for submission to the Commission; represents clients in FCC enforcement proceedings; and provides advice and counsel in connection with communications asset transactions.
Mr. Keane has drafted and negotiated numerous asset purchase agreements for communications properties, broadcast and nonbroadcast, and agreements for the lease of excess capacity on microwave radio systems. He provides FCC advice to lenders in connection with secured loans to communications companies and he has counseled clients in respect of Voice over Internet Protocol service agreements and toll-free number policies.
Mr. Keane has participated in many FCC rulemakings affecting wireless policies on behalf of trade association and corporate clients. This has included the preparation of written comments and advocacy before FCC and other decision-makers. Mr. Keane is also active in international radio spectrum regulation, for example, representing client interests in proceedings before the International Telecommunications Union in Geneva.
Mr. Keane is a 1972 graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law and a cum laude graduate of Holy Cross College. He is a Vietnam veteran.
Areas of Practice
- Wireless
- Broadcasting
- International
Representative Matters
- Represented aerospace clients in obtaining Federal Communications Commission rulings that protect radio channels used for aircraft and missile flight test telemetry against interference
- Represented broadcast group owners in station acquisitions, retransmission consent and tower lease transactions
- Represented State and municipal governments in negotiations with Sprint Nextel regarding the terms and conditions for rebanding 800 MHz radio facilities
- Represented one of the nation's largest TV translator operators in proceedings before the FCC regarding the right to compensation for costs of relocating television relay system
- Represented aerospace clients in negotiations to secure World Radiocommunication Conference approval for additional radio spectrum for flight testing
- Represented world leader in UV curing technology in FCC proceeding to preserve rules for industrial, scientific and medical devices
- Provided advice and counsel to competitive local exchange providers concerning telecom law issues (e.g., slamming) arising in context of bankruptcy proceedings
- Represented advertising industry client in federal court and FCC litigation involving client's classification as information service provider, rights to toll-free numbers, and related FCC inquiry
- Provided advice and counsel concerning telecommunications law aspects of VoIP service agreements and the drafting of same
- Provided counsel to trade association with respect to net neutrality legislation
- Represented automobile manufacturer in FCC radio licensing matter
- Provided advice and counsel to large public company with respect to mobile TV applications
- Formed coalition of associations to advocate industrial radio interests before FCC.
- Special counsel on behalf of Fortune 500 clients in FCC enforcement proceedings
- Representation of schools and colleges in negotiations for lease of microwave system excess capacity
- Representation of prominent geophysical exploration company in successful effort to secure modification of FCC rules for new technology
- Argued appellate cases to United States Court of Appeals and Federal Communications Commission
Professional Activities
- Member, U.S. Delegation, World Radiocommunication Conferences, 2003, 2007 and 2012
- Federal Communications Bar Association
- Executive Committee, 1994-1997
- Wireless Practice Committee Co-Chair, 2007-2008
Admissions
- Virginia
- District of Columbia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
Education
- University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 1972
Honors and Awards
- AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Selected Publications
- Co-author, "FCC Releases Decision on New Funding Program for Rural Health: Broadband Connectivity Prioritized and the Expansion of Telemedicine and mHealth Continues," Duane Morris Alert, January 2, 2013
- "mHealth and the FCC: What Does the FCC Have to Do with Medical Devices?" mHealth Newsletter, November 14, 2012
- "Mobile Internet Access: The Service That Ate the Radio Spectrum," Duane Morris Alert, February 11, 2011
- "FCC's "Net Neutrality" Looking to Regulate the Internet?," Duane Morris Alert, November 9, 2009
- Co-author, "Telecommunications Consumer Data: A Privacy Update," Duane Morris Alert, March 2, 2009
- "D.C. Circuit Upholds FCC Split Decision That Verizon Violated Communications Act in Its Handling of Cable TV Company "Porting" Requests," Duane Morris Alert, February 19, 2009
- Co-author, "Digital Television Conversion Update," Duane Morris Alert, February 11, 2009
- "Telecom and Broadcast Policy Under the Obama Administration," Duane Morris Alert, January 22, 2009
- "Unusual FCC Decision on "Porting" Finds Chairman Martin in a Minority of One," Duane Morris Alert, July 16, 2008
- "FCC Bans Exclusivity Clauses for the Provision of Video Services to Apartment Buildings," Duane Morris Alert, December 3, 2007
- "Net Neutrality – Revisited," Duane Morris Alert, August 22, 2007
- "FCC Adopts New Rules Restricting Telco Disclosure of Customer Data," Duane Morris Alert, April 13, 2007
- "The FCC and Net Neutrality," Duane Morris Alert, January 23, 2007
- "World Radiocommunication Conference Sets New Guidelines," Signal, September 2003
- "Achieving the Mobile Internet," Signal, March 2001. Co-winner of Armed Forces Communications and Electronic Association Award for Best Article in 2001
- "Receiver Standards and Guardbands: Maximizing Spectrum Efficiency," Radio Resource, March 1998
- "Flight Testing and the Radio Spectrum: Will Channels Be Available?", ITEA Journal, March/April 1997
- Co-author, "A Prevention Policy: Reducing Your EEO Exposure," Radio Ink, October 9-16, 1994
- "Private Communications Systems: Interconnection Rights Under Challenge," Telecommunications, September 1985
- "Access to the Network: Current Controversies Affecting Telephone Customer Interconnection Rights," Federal Bar News & Journal, November 1982
