Authored Articles & Publications Feb 24, 2023
Leanza Published in American City & County: Public Safety
Your Multi-Line Phone System and Federal Rules About 911 Calls: What You Need to Know
At a Glance
Cheryl has more than 25 years of experience in communications law and is a widely noted leader in equity in access to communications.
Cheryl is an experienced appellate litigator in federal court, including as lead counsel for several public interest organizations before the Third Circuit and as co-counsel before the U.S. Supreme Court in Prometheus Radio Project v. Federal Communications Commission.
Cheryl has wide-ranging contacts throughout the FCC and on Capitol Hill, enabling her to make contact with key players and obtain results.
Cheryl A. Leanza has been practicing communications law for more than 25 years with a wide scope of practice including Internet access, broadcast and cable regulation, social media corporate accountability and affordability in communications. Cheryl is skilled in appellate litigation and representing clients before the Federal Communications Commission and Congress. Cheryl plays a key role at the intersection of civil rights and communications policy and is a nationally recognized authority in equity in access to communications. Cheryl is particularly adept at finding agreements and policy solutions that are strategic, politically viable and legally airtight.
Litigation
Cheryl has successfully litigated on behalf of her clients challenging FCC decisions in federal court, including Prometheus Radio Project v. Federal Communications Commission before the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. She plays a critical role in Best Best & Krieger LLP’s Telecommunications litigation team, taking lead roles in defending local government interests in cable franchising matters in the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and appealing the FCC’s small cell decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. Cheryl is admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, Third, Fourth, Sixth and Ninth circuits.
FCC & Congress
Cheryl has counseled dozens of clients through FCC rulemaking proceedings as well as clients seeking licenses and renewals before the FCC, including a municipally owned utility and non-commercial radio stations and their trade associations. Cheryl has wide-ranging contacts throughout the FCC and on Capitol Hill, enabling her to quickly make contact with key players and obtain results. Cheryl was instrumental helping to develop and pass Congress’ Emergency Broadband Benefit at the end of 2020 and the Local Community Radio Act of 2010. Cheryl previously served as principal legislative counsel for telecommunications at the National League of Cities, where she was lead lobbyist for local elected officials.
Policy
Cheryl provides clients with white papers, strategic advice and overviews of the communications policy space in Washington, D.C., orienting clients to the multiple levers available to obtain desired policy outcomes and successfully pursuing long-term and short-term goals.
Education
- University of Michigan Law School, J.D., cum laude
- University of Michigan Ford School of Public Policy, M.P.P., cum laude
- Boston University, B.A. summa cum laude
Admissions
- District of Columbia
- New York
Memberships
- Federal Communications Bar Association; former member of Executive Committee; former trustee of the FCBA Foundation
- American Constitution Society
Honors/Awards
- South Trailblazer, The American Lawyer, 2022
- D.C. Impact Outstanding Advocate Award, National Hispanic Media Coalition, 2018
- Top 25 Leadership Award, Rainbow/PUSH Media & Telecommunications, 2013
Legal Alerts Feb 14, 2023
FCC Seeks Nominees for the Intergovernmental Advisory Committee
IAC Addresses Issues for State, Local and Tribal Governments Under FCC Jurisdiction
Authored Articles & Publications Sep 02, 2022
Current Rules & Future Happenings In Cable Franchising
BB&K’s Gerard Lavery Lederer and Cheryl Leanza Address In-Kind and Mixed-Use Rules in Municipal Maryland Article
Legal Alerts Jun 14, 2022
Process for Federal Internet Infrastructure & Digital Equity Fund Distribution Begins
State Deadlines Are in Mid-July; Localities Should Start Consulting With Their States Now
Authored Articles & Publications Apr 11, 2022
FCC Cable Franchising: In-kind and Mixed Use Rules
PublicCEO Article Addresses Current Rules and What Happens Next
Legal Alerts May 26, 2021
Federal Appeals Court Partially Reverses FCC’s Cable Ruling; Preempts City of Eugene’s Broadband Fee
Offset for In-Kind Services Limited to Marginal Costs, not Market Value
- “Big Data Policy and Practice in Local Government,” The Public Law Journal, spring 2016
- “Theory Applied: Walking the Halls of Power and the Streets in the Successful Campaign to End Predatory Long-Distance Prison Phone Rates,” 28 J. Civil Rts & Econ. Dev. 185 (2015)
- “Trying to Silence Others’ Speech: Hecklers’ Veto Case Law as a Resource for Democratic Discourse,” 35 Hofstra L. Rev. 1305 (2007)
- “Monolith or Mosaic: Can the Federal Communications Commission Legitimately Pursue a Repetition of Local Content at the Expense of Local Diversity?” 53 Am. U. L. Rev. 597 (2004)
