Kevin G. Rupy

Kevin’s practice centers on the legal and policy issues surrounding both traditional and emerging communications technologies. He represents clients before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and other federal agencies and has worked on a broad range of issues impacting broadband, voice, and video providers. Kevin has extensive experience working on legal issues involving the FCC’s various Universal Service Fund programs, including the E-Rate, High-Cost Fund, Lifeline, and Rural Health Care programs. He is a nationally recognized authority on key issues affecting the telecom industry, particularly those relating to legal and illegal robocalls. Prior to his arrival at the firm, Kevin was Vice President of Law and Policy at USTelecom, where he represented Fortune 500 companies in the wireline broadband marketplace. In that role, he frequently served as a liaison between association members and government agencies and Congress. During his tenure at USTelecom, Kevin established and led the Industry Traceback Group, which is now the FCC’s officially designated Traceback Consortium.

Representative Matters

• Counsels clients on a range of regulatory obligations under federal law, including under the Communications Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), the Truth-in-Caller ID Act, and helps clients assess compliance risk and evolving expectations under existing and proposed legislation.
• Testified before the U.S. Senate on five occasions regarding issues related to robocalls, including testimony regarding the Senate’s consideration of the Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act (TRACED Act).
• Counsels clients in FCC and FTC enforcement and compliance matters, to include the development and implementation of compliance plans.
• Counsels clients in numerous FCC rulemaking proceedings regarding implementation of the TRACED Act, to include rulemakings related to the creation of various call blocking safe harbors, establishment of the agency’s Traceback Consortium selection framework, and creation of the information sharing database on illegal robocalls, among others.
• Advises robocall analytics providers, voice service providers and enterprise callers on FCC regulations and proceedings resulting from passage of the TRACED Act.
• Counsels clients regarding participation in the FCC’s various broadband subsidy programs, including the Connect America Fund (CAF), the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF), and the Uniendo Fund. Has also advised clients on compliance and buildout obligations related to the CAF, RDOF, and Uniendo Funds.

Professional Experience

• Vice President, Law & Policy, United States Telecom Association (2005-2019)
• General Counsel, Bluemont Vineyard, LLC (2007-Present)
• Associate, Private Law Firm (2000-2005)
• Law Clerk, Mobex communications, Inc. (1998-2000)
• Logistics Officer, United States Marine Corps (1997-1998)
• Law Clerk, Private Law Firm (1997)
• Material Operations Director, Counterpart International (1995-1997)
• Logistics Officer, United States Marine Corps (1990-1995)