Michael E. Morrone joined Keller and Heckman in 1974. Mr. Morrone practices transportation, telecommunications, business counseling and transactional law.
With respect to his involvement in the business counseling and transactional practice, Mr. Morrone has assisted telecommunications clients in negotiating for (i) equipment financing and working capital loans, (ii) the securing of construction and system management services, (iii) the entry into tower and antenna site leases, (iv) the acquisition of telecommunications licenses and systems, and (v) the divestiture of assets. His transportation clients have relied upon him to advise on and negotiate their motor carriage contracts, as well as agreements for transportation property broker services. Mr. Morrone also devotes attention to counseling clients on entity formation considerations.
Transportation
· Represents corporate clients before the United States Department of Transportation, various State Public Service Commissions and the federal courts.
· Advises clients on the requirements imposed by the DOT's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, the Hazardous Materials Regulations, the Federal Railroad Administration Regulations, the federal regulations impacting for-hire property and passenger motor carrier market entry and subsequent conduct of operations; the productivity options available to the motor private carrier community; the transportation law implications of the North American Free Trade Agreement; and various issues regarding the Fair Labor Standards Act, labor relations statutes and customs regulations as they affect the transportation industry.
· Defended numerous shippers against undercharge suits instituted by the trustees for bankrupt motor common carriers and has also assisted shipper clients in developing and implementing customer backhaul allowance programs to comply with the Motor Carrier Act of 1980 and the Robinson-Patman Act.
· Negotiates motor, rail and ocean carriage service agreements on behalf of both shippers and carriers.
Telecommunications
· Represents numerous corporate, partnership, and limited liability company licensees before the Federal Communications Commission, the federal appellate courts, and various state public service commissions.
· Focuses on the regulation of Cellular Telephone Radio Service, Personal Communications Service, Interactive Video and Data Service, Specialized Mobile Radio Service, Radiotelephone and Paging Service, Local Multipoint Distribution Service, and Common Carrier Point-to-Point Microwave Radio Service licensees.
· Assists clients in applying to the FCC for various authorizations, in developing strategies for market expansion, in complying with both federal and state regulations and statutes, and in negotiating and drafting various agreements on their behalf.
· Closely monitors emerging telecommunications technologies and the business opportunities they present to his client base.
Memberships
American Bar Association; Federal Communication Bar Association; Association of Transportation Law Professionals
News, Events & Articles
News
Jul 25, 2011, Partner Mike Morrone Discusses FCC's Signal Booster Proceeding in This Week's Video Minute
Jan 10, 2011, Partner David Reader Discusses Telecommunications Transactions in this Week's Telecom Video Minute
Dec 06, 2010, Partner Jack Richards Discusses Narrowbanding Deadlines in this Week's K&H Telecom Video Minute
Articles
Feb 10, 2011, Whistleblower Alert: Internal Complaints Are Protected Whistleblower Activity, ARB Affirms
Jan 05, 2011, Client Alert: Employer Compliance Guidance for Whistleblower Provisions Under New Food Safety Modernization Act
Sep 02, 2010, Whistleblower Alert: DOL Publishes Interim Final Rule Implementing Amendments to the STAA Whistleblower Provisions Contained in the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007
Apr 01, 2010, Critical Regulatory Issues to Consider in a Non-Regulatory Setting
Sep 28, 2009, Transportation Alert: 'Entrepreneurialism' Makes Workers Independent Contractors
Mar 01, 2007, Telecom Advisory- Issue 44
Sep 08, 2006, Telecom Advisory, September 2006, Issue No. 43
May 01, 2005, Telecom Advisory, May 2005, Issue No. 41
Feb 01, 2005, Telecom Advisory, February 2005, Issue No. 40
Nov 01, 2004, Telecom Advisory, November 2004, Issue No. 39
Oct 14, 2004, Broadband Over Power Line:
Easements, Rights-Of-Way and Related Issues
Jul 01, 2004, Telecom Advisory, July 2004, Issue No. 38
May 14, 2004, Telecom Advisory, May 2004, Issue No. 37
Mar 21, 2002, Ban Lifted on Operation of Mexican Trucks in the U.S. Beyond the Border Zone