Craig A. Gilley
Craig maintains strategic relationships with regulatory authorities at all levels, including Congress, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the Department of Justice (DOJ), state public utility commissions, and international regulatory bodies. His ability to navigate these challenging government landscapes enables clients to achieve compliance while pursuing aggressive growth strategies.
As primary regulatory counsel to broadband and internet service providers, video programmers, satellite companies, technology vendors, and wireless telecommunications operators, Craig helps his clients' companies secure critical government authorizations, shape public policy, and structure sophisticated commercial agreements involving network assets and technology services. His counsel encompasses fiber access rights, rights-of-way negotiations, utility pole and conduit attachments, and compliance frameworks for financings and transactions.
Craig also develops and prosecutes comprehensive public policy campaigns involving broadband, wireless, and communications technology issues, advocating directly before various state and federal agencies. His collaborative approach includes building strategic coalitions and business alliances that advance clients' interests in the policy arena, positioning them for sustained competitive advantage in rapidly evolving markets.
Craig also represents companies and organizations in communications- and technology-related trial and appellate litigation, including matters before federal circuit and district courts and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Craig has successfully led clients through dozens of mergers and acquisitions, complex technology transactions, intellectual property matters, and high-stakes litigation. He excels at identifying and mitigating long-term regulatory risks while helping clients navigate emerging technology frameworks.
Drawing from his extensive background advising companies in the technology sector, Craig also provides comprehensive legal support to information technology (IT) and educational technology companies. For technology companies and investors, he delivers strategic guidance on licensing, partnerships, and operational compliance, frequently supporting deals involving cloud services, IP management, and growth-stage investment activity.
Craig collaborates closely with investment firms and private equity companies, ensuring their technology sector acquisitions and portfolio investments satisfy regulatory requirements while maximizing value creation opportunities.
Related Practices
Experience
Representative Matters
Transactions
- Represented Cable One in its $735 million acquisition of New Wave
- Represented Cable One in its $525 million acquisition of Fidelity Communications
- Represented CountryWide Broadband and equity sponsor Seaport Capital with respect to their acquisition of cable systems and fiber ring networks from iTV-3 in Champaign-Urbana, Bloomington, and Peoria, Illinois and Full Channel Communications cable systems in Rhode Island, including advising on corporate structure of, and investment in, the transaction, and negotiating the necessary approvals
- Represented Atlantic Tele-Networks in its sale of fiber-optic data, Internet, data center, and voice services subsidiary to Oak Hill Partners
- Represented education technology provider Unizin in its successful spin off from Internet2 and follow on corporate reorganization
- Represented TPG Global in its $2.365 billion acquisition of Wave Broadband in 2018 to create the sixth largest cable operator in the country, changing the nature of the company from a small, relatively unknown competitor to one of the most powerful cable operators in the country
- Represented TPG Global in its acquisition from Oak Hill Capital Partners of two cable operators, RCN Telecom Services, LLC and Grande Communications Networks, LLC. Acted as regulatory counsel for TPG, advised on the pre-purchase due diligence, prepared and filed applications for regulatory approval of the transaction by the FCC and state and local governments, and shepherded those applications through the approval process until completion and closing
FCC Regulation
- Served as FCC regulatory counsel on cable-related matters to Cable One, one of the 10 largest cable operations in the country
- Served as FCC regulatory counsel on cable-related matters to Mediacom Communications Corporation, one of the 10 largest cable operations in the country
- Successfully represented the American Cable Association in an FCC rulemaking that resulted in the adoption of a modification of the standard for determination when a cable system is subject to "effective competition" and not subject to local rate regulation. The outcome of the proceeding resulted in the adoption of a standard that presumptively deregulates all cable operations
Insights
Credentials
Education
- J.D. Georgetown University Law Center 1995
- B.A. History Brown University 1992
Professional Memberships and Activities
- Member, Federal Communications Bar Association
Recognition
- Legal 500, Telecom and Broadcast: Regulatory, 2017 – 2018
- Multichannel News, Deal Makers: Counselors Who Seal the Deal in Cable, 2015
- The Best Lawyers in America, Communications Law, 2025