Long Bio | William J. Sill brings Wilkinson Barker Knauer extensive experience in both government service and private practice. While at the FCC, Mr. Sill worked in the Mass Media and Common Carrier Bureaus and was chosen to lead a multi-bureau Direct Broadcast Satellite Task Force. He was later selected to become a member of the International Conference Staff.
Since entering private practice, Mr. Sill has established himself as an expert in the field of wireless communications. For over 20 years Mr. Sill has been actively engaged in tower siting issues on behalf of broadcasters, wireless carriers, tower companies and wireless associations. Recognizing the essential nature of infrastructure build-out, Mr. Sill founded and heads the firm’s Wireless Tower Group. He develops compliance plans, provides strategies for resolving tower siting issues and counsels clients that are buying or selling tower assets. Further, Mr. Sill has designed and conducted tower siting seminars for clients.
In addition, Mr. Sill represents telecommunications clients on other regulatory, operational and transactional issues. On behalf of his cellular, PCS, microwave, land mobile and landline telephone clients, Mr. Sill regularly appears before the FCC, other federal agencies, State Historic Preservation Offices, prepares and files facilities applications, negotiates interconnection agreements, and counsels both established and start up communications companies.
Standard Bio | Mr. Sill brings Wilkinson Barker extensive experience in both government service and private practice. Over a four year period Mr. Sill worked in the Mass Media and Common Carrier Bureaus of the Federal Communications Commission. While at the FCC, Mr. Sill was chosen to lead a multi-bureau Direct Broadcast Satellite Task Force and later was selected to become a member of the International Conference Staff.
Since entering private practice, Mr. Sill has established himself as an expert in the field of wireless communications. He represents telecommunications clients on regulatory, operational and transactional issues. Mr. Sill has served as telecommunications counsel on transactions ranging in size from single system sales to multi-billion dollar mega-mergers. On behalf of his clients, Mr. Sill regularly appears before the FCC, prepares and files facilities applications, negotiates interconnection agreements, and counsels both established and start up communications companies. Mr. Sill’s clients include premier cellular, PCS, microwave, land mobile, and landline telephone companies. He does more than chart the regulatory seas for his clients, he pinpoints opportunities which arise from changes in FCC policies and rules.
Martindale Hubbell has recognized his accomplishments by awarding Mr. Sill an AV rating, which is the highest rating awarded an attorney. Most recently, Mr. Sill has spoken on tower siting issues at the CTIA Critical Issues Forum: Tower Siting (2004); CTIA Tower Siting (2005); the Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee Wireless Association Regulatory Round Table (2005); 9th Annual Tower Summit (2006); and PCIA Wireless Infrastructure Show (2006). In addition he has lectured the Federal Communications Bar Association on the Rewrite of Part 22 of the FCC’s Rules and written numerous articles on wireless issues. Mr. Sill has also served as Co-Chair of the FCBA’s Wireless Practice Committee.
He took his degrees from Temple University School of Communications & Theater (B.A., in Communications, 1975) and Temple University School of Law (J.D., 1978). A recipient of Presidential Scholar honors, Mr. Sill joined the Federal Communications Commission (Attorney: International Conference Staff - Common Carrier Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 1983; International Facilities Division, Common Carrier Bureau, 1982-1983; Mass Media Bureau, 1979-1982; Broadcasting Bureau, 1979-1982). Mr. Sill is also a member of the District of Columbia, the Pennsylvania, the American, and the Federal Communications Bar Associations.
