Mr. Baruch has been a Member of the firm since January 1992 and is the head of the firm's Satellite and Spectrum Policy Group. At the firm, Mr. Baruch’s practice is concentrated in the area of international communications. He has developed a particular expertise on regulatory and policy issues involving the allocation, assignment, and use of the radiofrequency spectrum and orbital resources.
Mr. Baruch represents satellite system applicants and operators in spectrum allocation, service rules, and licensing proceedings before the FCC and other agencies; in domestic and international corporate and commercial transactions; and in bilateral and multilateral satellite system and network coordinations. He has participated in the establishment of several new satellite services – including the “Little LEO” mobile-satellite service, and the Ku-band non-geostationary fixed-satellite service – as well as in the extension of existing satellite services to new frequency bands. Mr. Baruch also helps common carrier clients entering the market for international telecommunications services secure the necessary facilities and associated authorizations.
Mr. Baruch regularly participates on behalf of the firm’s clients as a member of United States delegations to meetings of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL). Over the years, Mr. Baruch has been a member of the U.S. delegations to dozens of ITU and CITEL meetings around the world on international spectrum allocation and utilization matters, including the 1995, 1997, 2000 and 2003 World Radiocommunication Conferences, and is actively involved in U.S. and ITU preparations for the 2007 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-2007). In his latter role, Mr. Baruch is currently serving as Chairperson of one of the Working Groups in the FCC’s WRC-2007 Advisory Committee, which develops industry recommendations to the FCC for U.S. proposals to WRC-2007.
Mr. Baruch has written numerous articles and commentaries for communications and legal publications on such topics as satellite transponder lease agreements and the efficacy of the FCC’s negotiated rulemaking procedure. He has also appeared as a speaker and a panelist at telecommunications industry conferences and conventions.
