Robert M. McDowell

The US Supreme Court ruled on April 1, 2021 that the Federal Communications Commission was within its authority to repeal or modify three long-standing media ownership controls. The decision aligned with arguments Cooley made in amicus briefs submitted on behalf of Gray Television that, after years of challenges, the FCC’s modernized rules finally should be allowed to take effect because the agency issued them in full compliance with its obligations under Section 202(h) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

In a unanimous opinion written by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the Supreme Court found no issues with the agency’s 2017 decision, which eliminated bans on broadcast-newspaper and television-radio cross-ownership, nixed restrictions on cross-station advertising agreements and dropped a diversity-of-viewpoints rule for local markets. Lawyers David Mills, Robert McDowell and Barrett Anderson led the Cooley effort.

New York – March 10, 2022 – Cooley filed an amicus brief on behalf of the Competitive Carriers Association (CCA), a trade association for competitive wireless providers and stakeholders across the country, in New York State Telecommunications Association, Inc. et al. v. James. The brief urges the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to uphold a lower court’s permanent injunction barring enforcement of New York’s Affordable Broadband Act (ABA), which regulates the rates, terms and conditions of internet service providers’ broadband internet access service offerings to the public. Partners David E. Mills and Robert McDowell are leading the Cooley team representing the CCA.

Cooley advised Zoom Video Communications on its agreement to acquire Five9, a leading provider of the intelligent cloud contact center, in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $14.7 billion. Jamie Leigh, Ben Beerle, Anne Lieberman and Jon Avina led the Cooley team advising Zoom on the transaction.

Cooley advised ION Media on its agreement to sell to E.W. Scripps for $2.65 billion, combining the business with Scripps' Katz networks and Newsy to create a full-scale national television networks business. Lawyers John Feore and Jason Rademacher led the Cooley team advising ION.

Cooley served as regulatory and public affairs counsel to T-Mobile US on its merger with Sprint on an all-stock transaction.