Chip Yorkgitis

Partner

Phone number
(202) 342-8540

Chip Yorkgitis is a founding member of Kelley Drye’s Communication group and co-chair of the firm’s Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) practice.

Chip represents a wide range of service providers, such as advanced communications service providers, domestic competitive telecommunications carriers, international carriers, and submarine cable operators, in all aspects of federal and state communications laws. He regularly represents these clients in entry and licensing matters; development and interpretation of Federal Communication Commission (FCC) and state implementing regulations; national security and law enforcement reviews before Team telecom and CFIUS; negotiation, arbitration and enforcement of interconnection agreements and service contracts; regulatory compliance; agency investigations and enforcement in matters as diverse as universal service contribution obligations, outage reporting, access charges, equipment authorization; private adjudications; and regulatory matters related to mergers, acquisitions and other transactions in today’s fast changing environment. He represents a number of providers and utilities in matters related to pole attachments, conduit occupancy rights, local franchises and public rights-of-way in numerous municipalities, counties, and localities around the United States.

Chip also represents clients with interests and concerns related to spectrum management. He has acted as counsel to users of spectrum in multiple industries on issues related to spectrum allocation, interference resolution, private and NTIA coordination of stations and spectrum sharing, International Telecommunication Union Radio Regulations, management of stations, adherence to operational and technical regulations, interconnection, FCC radio station licensing, foreign ownership, antenna structure marking and lighting requirements, and FAA obstruction evaluations. He advises numerous equipment manufacturers, importers, and retailers with regard to equipment radiofrequency emission testing, equipment authorization (certification and Suppliers’, Declarations of Conformity), limits on human exposure to radiofrequency emissions, and other electromagnetic compatibility matters, covering both licensed and unlicensed devices. He has represented satellite carriers and their customers in negotiating transponder, capacity and other commercial arrangements, as well as complying with all facets of federal regulation.

Represents multiple international carriers and submarine cable operators in matters of ongoing compliance with FCC requirement and National Security Agreements or Letters of Assurances obligations with the Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the U.S. Telecommunications Services Sector.

Represents a global service provider with an infrastructure business spanning North and South America, Europe, and Asia in connection with its sale to new investors in applications before the FCC and review by the Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the U.S. Telecommunications Services Sector.

Assisted Alaskan company in obtaining a submarine cable landing license and completing national security and law enforcement reviews for the first North American cable system north of the Arctic Circle, as well as in negotiating related supply, fiber, and other agreements.

Acted for over a decade as global coordinating regulatory counsel for a major U.S. contractor charged with implementing the worldwide ground segment of a next-generation polar-orbiting weather and environmental satellite system, coordinating the supporting work of a dozen firms located around the world.

Represents several aerospace clients in the FCC’s proceedings on sharing of flight test spectrum at 1435-1525 MHz and 2360- 2390 MHz and potential flight test spectrum allocations in other bands.

Represent members of the aviation industry regarding spectrum access and compatibility issues in multiple spectrum bands, including VHF, L-Band, and C-Band, among others.

Member of the U.S. Delegation to the International Telecommunications Union’s 2019 World Radiocommunication Conference in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, October and November 2019 (and active participant in USWP5C, CITEL, and WP5C meetings in preparation for the WRC).

Acts as Federal regulatory counsel to the spectrum management council of a major U.S. federal government contractor.

Represented major competitive telecommunications carrier in rights-of-way litigation with municipal government in state court in the SE United States, recently brought to a successful resolution after multiyear proceedings.

Represented major competitive telecommunications carrier in litigation over pole attachment rates and access to fiber with municipally owned utility in federal court in the SE United States, brought to a successful resolution after multi-year proceedings.

Has represented numerous competitive telecommunications carriers in negotiations, arbitrations, and court cases in a variety of intercarrier compensation disputes with both interexchange carriers and incumbent local exchange carriers.

Ranked by Chambers USA as a leading practitioner in the Telecom, Broadcast & Satellite area, 2021-2023.

The Best Lawyers in America© (Woodward/White, Inc.), Communications Law, 2020-2024.

Recommended in US Legal 500 for his work in the area of Telecom and Broadcast–Regulatory, 2017-2023.

Recognized as a leading attorney in the Communications practice area by Washington D.C. Super Lawyers, 2017-2021.