Kramer Telecom Law Firm, P.C.

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Law Knowledge + Technology Expertise = Client Solutions

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Knowing the law is not enough . . .
...and neither is knowing the technology.

We know both, and our clients benefit from that synergy.

Kramer Telecom Law Firm, P.C. (KTLF) is an unusual law firm that combines decades of wireless communications, cable TV, broadband, fiber technology, and right-of-way technology and management with practical law knowledge in those areas. We provide our clients with real world, technology-appropriate solutions to their legal issues.

KTLF NEWS HEADLINES

"We’ll Leave the Analog TV on for You"
Updated December 24, 2008

In a move that would make Tom Bodett and Motel 6 proud, Congress has passed the in oddly-titled "Short-term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness Act" and sent it to President Bush for his signature. The President signed the bill into law on December 23, 2008, and the Commission released its Notice of Proposed Rule Making on December 24th.

The Act directs the FCC, by January 15, 2009, to adopt procedures that would "encourage and permit" (read: require) analog TV broadcast stations to leave a message viewable on analog-only TVs giving information in English and Spanish about the digital transition, as well as Emergency Alerts, for a period of 30 days post-transition.

UHF analog stations operating on channels 14 through 20, and channels 52 through 69 are excluded since that spectrum is already committed to new licensees or digital only licensees post-transition.

To read the text of the Act, please follow this link. To read the FCC's NPRM, please follow this link.

SBE Logo December 18, 2008: Jonathan Kramer has been admitted to membership in the Society of Broadcast Engineers, and is now a member of Chapter 47 (Los Angeles, California).
Jonathan L. Kramer's
Upcoming Presentations
January 12, 2009: Jonathan will be a co-presenter at the web cast SCTE web cast on the DTV conversion titled, "Preparedness and Final Planning Assessments."

This is the last in a series of discussions being presented by the SCTE in anticipation of the February 2009 cut-over to DTV.

Jonathan will be discussing last minute coordination with local governments to help the public make heads and tails of their television options after the DTV cut-over.

The web cast is free to SCTE members, and $60 for others. For sign-up information, please visit this link.

State Bar of California
SECTION EDUCATION INSTITUTE
& CALIFORNIA SOLO AND SMALL FIRM SUMMIT

January 16-18, 2009
Claremont Resort and Spa
Berkeley, California

January 17: 2009 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Session title: "Protecting Client Confidences While Using Mobile Technology"

Learn about the secret life of laptops, PDA’s and telephones. Understand the threats to attorney-client confidences for attorneys who use mobile technology, and get practical advice on how to protect a law firm’s mobile perimeter.

Faculty: Lisa Miller, Esq., Miller Consulting, and Jonathan L. Kramer, Esq., Kramer Telecom Law Firm, P.C.
MCLE: 1.0 Hour Ethics

...followed immediately by...

January 17, 2009, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Session title: "Telecom Law 101: Basics Every Practitioner Should Know."

Presentation description: "Telecom law cuts across many government practice areas. Learn what’s new in wireless siting issues and cases; telecom right-of-way; cable TV; telecom safety enforcement; satellite TV; and over-the-air antenna regulation. Inflatable toys will be provided."

Faculty: Jonathan L. Kramer, Esq., Kramer Telecom Law Firm, P.C., Los Angeles, CA
MCLE Credit: 1 hour/General

March 3, 2009: Jonathan and John W. Pestle will be co-presenters on the topic of 'Current Issues in Cell Tower Leasing' teleconference coordinated by Lorman Education Services.

Jonathan will focus on the technology issues (transmission, RF safety, equipment) as they intertwine with legal issues.

This lecture is geared towards private practice and municipal government attorneys No information is available at the Lorman site at the present time, by keep checking back here.

March 25-27, 2009: Jonathan will be co-presenter at the League of California Cities Public Works Officers Institute. Jonathan will be speaking on cable TV equipment in the public right-of-way in a session titled, "State Cable Franchise Update:  State–of–the– Art or State–of–War?"

The Institute will be held in Monterey, California. That, alone, is a good enough reason to attend the Institute!

Jonathan L. Kramer's
Articles of Note

Give Me Your Bond
by Jonathan L. Kramer

Bonds; grounds; drops... It's an NEC Compliance Thing! Jonathan's article on these topics is the cover story in the October 2007 issue of Communications Technology magazine. (Updated October 26, 2007)

Click on the ARTICLES tab, above.

Cell Phonies

Is it a bird? A plane? A buffalo? Nope. It's a camouflaged cell phone tower site. The September 2007 issue of The National Geographic magazine features Jonathan's photographs of camouflaged cell sites. He's also quoted in the article, and he supplied additional photos for an on-line feature at the NGS web site.

Click on the ARTICLES tab, above.
(It's okay...you can click on the image!)

A Modern Game of Hide and Seek
by Jonathan L. Kramer

Want to learn about wireless site camouflaging from the perspective of government planners? In a new article by Jonathan in the July 2007 issue of AGL MAGAZINE, you'll find out!

Click on the ARTICLES tab, above.
(It's okay...you can click on the image!)

Picture Quality in the Digital Cable World: A Lost Science?
by Jonathan L. Kramer

There's a new article by Jonathan in the Summer 2007 issue of the NATOA JOURNAL.

Titled, "Picture Quality in the Digital Cable World: A Lost Science?", Jonathan discusses the history and future of the FCC's cable TV system picture quality rules and enforcement of those rules. Click on the ARTICLES tab, above.

Algonquin Elegy
by Neil J. Lehto

No, it's not written by Jonathan, but he recommends it!

Click here to buy the book. Just do it.

KTLF's Story

Before becoming an attorney, Jonathan Kramer was licensed by the FCC for over 30 years. He holds the highest-grade FCC commercial radiotelephone, marine digital, radar, and amateur radio licenses. Jonathan's also been licensed as a telecommunications contractor in California for over 20 years.

Jonathan has been 'on faculty' for various continuing education courses for attorneys, and he's advised hundreds of attorneys in how to deal with telecommunications technology matters. Involved in the nuts-and-bolts of radio frequency, cable TV, and broadband telecommunications for 30 years, Kramer has been recognized by industry and governments as a leader in telecommunications and regulation.

After working with so many attorneys over the decades, Jonathan recognized the need for technical expertise, coupled with a keen knowledge of law related to telecommunications, so he embarked on the long path of becoming an attorney. Today, Jonathan is admitted to practice law in California and the US District Court (Central District of California). He advises governments and public and private attorneys around the country regarding telecommunications issues.

We can help guide you through your telecommunications law issues.

Antenna Tower Siting/Planning/Ordinances Tower siting and planning is a difficult subject for many governments and private parties. It's only getting more complicated with the current round of mergers and partnerships, and the entry of new FCC licensees into the marketplace.

Is the site the least intrusive? Is the design the best possible? Is the compensation at a fair rate? What about the lease terms? We'll help you answer those and other key questions.

We over 17 years of experience in educating and assisting hundreds of governments and private parties throughout the U.S. in tower siting cases, ordinance drafting, and lease negotiations. You can plan on us to help you, too.

Radio Frequency Emissions Safety Far and away, the public's first concern with new cell tower sites is radio frequency emissions safety. The public is often quite vocal about whether a particular cell site, or a combination of cell sites will be harmful to their health. We have nearly two decades of experience addressing RF safety concerns.

Our principal attorney, Jonathan Kramer co-authored the FCC's "A Local Government Official's Guide to Transmitting Antenna RF Emission Safety: Rules, Procedures, and Practical Guidance." (Long name, but a great guide in PDF and WORD formats.) We can help you deal with the public's RF safety concerns through education and independent RF reviews.

"Furniture" in the Right-of-Way It's a really big deal...with the telephone companies entering the video market place, governments and private associations are facing the prospect of dozens to hundreds of new, large equipment cabinets in the right-of-way and common areas.

We can help you to minimize the disruption to your right of way...and your community... through careful siting of these new cabinets, and by crafting specific construction regulations that address local concerns during the construction phases.

Over-the-Air Reception Devices The FCC, as directed by Congress, as adopted sweeping rules limiting the controls state and local governments, and private parties can impose and enforce regarding over-the-air receiving (and even transmitting) antennas/devices.

Call on us...we'll help you 'receive' high-strength guidance on OTARD!


Litigation; Expert Witness Depositions; Examinations To paraphrase, 'Litigation Happens.' If you're going to litigate a matter, you need to know the in's-and-out's of the other side's case (and your own, too). In the technology areas, we can provide key insights to help you and your lead attorney frame your case, or your defense.

It's common for attorneys to depose expert witnesses in technology matters. It's uncommon for an attorney to have decades of technical depth in a subject matter area to ask the key follow-up questions of the expert.

Jonathan Kramer, KTLF's principal attorney has nearly three decades of technology experience in radio frequency communications, cable television, fiber optics, and plant safety matters. He's also been an expert witness in cable TV and wireless matters. It's that level of experience that enables us to ask the important follow-up questions to get to the real strengths and weaknesses of an expert's testimony.



Cable TV Plant Safety and Picture Quality When it's time to franchise, transfer, or renew a cable television system, two of the most valuable evaluations you can commission are in connection with physical plant safety (code compliance) and picture quality (FCC rules compliance).

Over the past 22 years, Jonathan Kramer and staff have performed and supervised tens of thousands of location safety evaluation and test point inspections for nearly 600 jurisdictions around the country.

Safety code compliance, and signal quality maintenance are top-level concerns for governments around the country. We have the experience to show you how to deal with these issues in a very practical way.



Amateur Radio Antenna IssuesAmateur radio station antennas enjoy special rights under the FCC's PRB-1 rules, and under some state laws as well. While those rules don't preempt local zoning laws, they do impact them, as Ham operators will quickly point out.

Jonathan Kramer has been licensed as an Amateur Radio operator for over 30 years. He holds the highest class amateur radio license (the "Extra Class" license; call sign W6JLK), and can translate 'Ham-speak' into English and/or Law during your zoning hearings, and when you draft a wireless ordinance that touches on amateur radio stations.

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