James R. Hobson

Of Counsel

James R. Hobson is of counsel in Best Best & Krieger LLP’s Washington, D.C. office. Prior to joining the firm in 2011, he was an attorney with Miller & Van Eaton, a nationally-recognized Washington, D.C. law firm practicing government relations.

Mr. Hobson has 40 years of experience in communications as a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) official, corporate lawyer and private legal practitioner. With the FCC from 1972 to 1978, his posts included special assistant to the chairman and chief of the Cable Television Bureau. As Washington counsel for GTE from 1978 to 1991, Mr. Hobson's experience included advocating for the company’s legislative priorities in Congress and in numerous federal agencies, including the FCC.

As a private practice attorney and registered federal lobbyist, Mr. Hobson continues to provide government relations services to clients. In addition, he has developed a specialty in wireless licensing generally and public safety communications particularly, including 9-1-1 emergency calling and rebanding of the 800 MHz spectrum. Mr. Hobson is consulted regularly by local governments and citizens' groups on the siting of wireless communications facilities under zoning codes and ordinances. He was a member of the statutory panel of arbitrators which in 1992 recommended changes in the fees paid for satellite carrier delivery of super-station and network TV signals to backyard dish receivers.

Mr. Hobson holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Cornell and Georgetown Universities respectively, and a law degree from the University of San Francisco. He has served on the American Arbitration Association's National Panel and is a trained mediator.

Education

• University of San Francisco School of Law, J.D. (1971)
• Georgetown University, M.A., Government (1963)
• Cornell University, B.A. (1959)

Bar Admissions

• California (1972)
• District of Columbia (1973)

Court Admissions

• United States Supreme Court
• USCA 2, 5, 9, 10
• D.C. Circuit

Awards

• Washington, D.C. Top Rated Lawyer in Communications Law, American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell (2013)

James R. Hobson

Of Counsel

Memberships

• American Bar Association
• Federal Communications Bar Association
• Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill, Alexandria

Community Involvement

• Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University (Advisory Board, 1989-2009)
• Goodwin House Retirement Community (Board of Directors, 1996-2001)
• City of Alexandria Traffic Board (1980-82)