WASHINGTON-Communications lawyers that practice before Federal Communications Commission’s downtown headquarters have hired the powerful Patton Boggs lobbying firm to fight the agency’s uncertain move to the Portals.
Edward Newberry of Patton Boggs has been retained by the Federal Communications Bar Association on the FCC relocation. Newberry also represents Charles E. Smith Cos., the FCC’s current landlord.
“They (the FCBA) have some serious concerns about it,” said Newberry.
Newberry said FCBA hired him to keep the organization informed on the FCC-Portals controversy. He said he has no lobbying agenda on Capitol Hill.
Asked whether Charles E. Smith was lobbying against the FCC move, Newberry replied the Washington real-estate giant had not been active in the past year.
It is no secret that communications lawyers, whose offices are located near the FCC and fashionable eateries in Northwest D.C., are against the move to the Portals.
That the FCBA and Charles E. Smith oppose FCC consolidation in the Portals and have hired guns to prevent it from happening may help explain why the relocation controversy has dragged on for a decade.
R. Clark Wadlow, president of FCBA, could not be reached for comment.
However, Wadlow told Legal Times that it would be difficult for attorneys to do business with the FCC if it moves to the Portals. He said he also feared the 100 FCC lawyers who are FCBA members will drop their membership if the agency relocates to the Portals.
The Portals is located in the less spectacular environs of Southwest Washington, home of other government agencies and museums. Portals developers want to build restaurants and shops for federal employees and law firms that may relocate to the new facility.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Bill Kennard told congressional appropriators last week the agency is prepared to move to the Portals if funding and security issues are resolved.
“The FCC needs to consolidate its offices at the Portals,” said Kennard, when pressed by Senate Commerce appropriations subcommittee Chairman Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) about the agency’s intentions.
The FCC said it needs $24 million during the next eight months to make the Portals move this year. GSA agreed to loan the FCC some of the money for the move.
