Partner Gerard Lavery Lederer Quoted in Law360 on the Telecom Developments That Shaped 2025
Lederer Offers Perspective on Broadband Deployment, Rights-Of-Way and Local Government Authority
In a December 19, 2025, article published by Law360, Best Best & Krieger LLP (BBK) Partner Gerard Lederer was quoted for his analysis of broadband deployment policy and public rights-of-way. He addressed the role of local governments amid evolving federal and congressional efforts to streamline telecommunications infrastructure development.
Lederer’s comments focused on proposals aimed at accelerating broadband deployment by limiting state and local authority over permitting and access to public rights-of-way. Drawing on his experience representing cities and counties, he emphasized that local governments broadly support the expansion of high-speed broadband and do not view deployment as a partisan issue.
Lederer also raised concerns about efforts to extend federal rights-of-way protections to broadband providers without imposing corresponding public-interest obligations. He explained that existing provisions of the Communications Act strike a balance by granting telecommunications providers access and protections in exchange for certain responsibilities.
Through his commentary, Lederer highlighted the importance of preserving local government authority while continuing to advance broadband infrastructure, underscoring the need for policies that promote deployment without taking away established public-interest safeguards.
Read the full Law360 article here.
