Areas of Practice
Mr. Frisby is a partner in the firm's Telecommunications, Energy and Tranportation, and Corporate Securities groups. His practices focuses on regulatory and corporate matters affecting entities in the communications, energy and technology areas. For over 20 years he has represented clients in a wide variety of proceedings, including litigation matters, before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), state utility commissions and federal courts. As part of his practice, he has served as special telecommunications counsel to several large municipalities and has testified before several Congressional committees on various issues.
Professional Background
Prior to joining Fleischman and Harding, Mr. Frisby was CEO and Acting Chief Legal Officer of the Competitive Telecommunications Association (CompTel). With 350 members, CompTel is the largest association representing facilities-based carriers, providers using unbundled network elements, global integrated communications companies, and their supplier partners. The association's membership includes companies of all sizes and profiles that provide voice, data and video services in the U.S. and around the world.
Previously, Mr. Frisby served as Chairman of the Maryland Public Service Commission. During his tenure, the Commission was renowned for its pro-competitive policies in telecommunications, gas and electricity matters. Mr. Frisby participated in a number of key decisions, including the Telecommunications Act arbitration proceedings, various rate cases and the electric industry restructuring.
Mr. Frisby's experience in telecommunications began in 1979 when he joined the Common Carrier Bureau of the FCC as an Attorney-Advisor. While in the Common Carrier Bureau, Mr. Frisby was an author of the Commission's landmark Final Decision in the Second Computer Inquiry which deregulated terminal equipment and enhanced services, and established pro-competitive regulations. He also served as Staff Director of the FCC's Conference on Enterprise Opportunities for Minorities in Telecommunications. He served as Legal Assistant to FCC Commissioner Joseph R. Fogarty and was involved in a number of major FCC decisions.
In 1983, Mr. Frisby followed Fogarty into private practice, where he served as lead counsel for the District of Columbia Government in various telephone rate cases, and represented other parties in telephone rate cases and proceedings in a number of states. In addition, Mr. Frisby represented telecommunications clients before the United States Supreme Court and at the FCC.
Professional/Civic Activities
Throughout his career, Mr. Frisby has been active in public affairs and civil rights. He served as Counsel to the Minority Business Enterprise Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc. and represented it before the United States Supreme Court in the Croson case. He also served as Counsel of Record for the Congressional Black Caucus before the Supreme Court in the Adarand case. In 1989, Mr. Frisby received the Fund's Charles Hamilton Houston Award for his outstanding skill, dedication, and commitment through legal representation on behalf of the national minority business community.
Active in local civic affairs, Mr. Frisby was the founding chair of the Baltimore City Chamber of Commerce. He has also served on numerous boards, including the Board of Directors of the Afro-American Newspapers, the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Baltimore Urban League, the B&O Railroad Museum, and the United Way of Central Maryland.
In addition to his other interests, Mr. Frisby has been involved in a number of bar activities. He is Vice Chair-Elect of the American Bar Association's (ABA) Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice. He has served as Vice Chair of the NARUC Committee on Communications, Chair of the ABA Coordinating Group on Energy Law, and served on the Section Council of ABA's Administrative Law Section.
Mr. Frisby’s other professional activities include:
National Association of Regulatory Utilities Commissioners (Former Vice Chair,
Telecommunications Committee; Former Chair, Consumer Issues Policy Group)
Federal Communication Bar Association (co-chair, Diversity Committee)
American Bar Association (Section Chair and Past Council Member, Section of
Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice, Past Budget Officer, Co-Chair,
Communications Committee, Chair 2004 Spring Meeting; Past Secretary, ABA
Conference of Minority Partners; Past Chairman, Federal Regulation Subcommittee,
Telecommunications Committee, Section of Corporation, Banking and Business Law)
Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation
Maryland State Bar Association (Member, Section Council, Section on Legal Education
and Admissions to the Bar)
Life Fellow of the Maryland Bar Foundation
District of Columbia Bar Association
Federal Communications Bar Association
Monumental City Bar Association
National Bar Association
Court Admissions
Maryland Court of Appeals
United States Court for the District of Maryland
Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
Bar Admissions
District of Columbia
and Maryland
Speaking Engagements
Mr. Frisby speaks regularly before industry conferences, financial analysts and Congressional committees on communications and technology issues. A complete list of these appearances, including relevant supporting content where applicable, is available upon request.
Honors and Awards
Charles Hamilton Houston Award (Minority Business Enterprise Legal Defense and
Education Fund, Inc.), 1989
Communications
