Attorney Bios

Robert Gurss has over 26 years of experience in all aspects of communications law, including issues related to wireless telecommunications, common carrier, cable, and broadcasting matters. His practice currently focuses on the representation of governmental entities and corporations on wireless telecommunications issues. His expertise includes domestic and international spectrum allocations, transactions involving communications facilities, frequency reallocation negotiations, resolution of interference disputes, complex FCC licensing matters, regulatory compliance issues, rule waivers, and equipment standards.

Mr. Gurss is particularly well known for his work in the area of public safety communications.  He has represented over 80 different state and local government agencies on FCC-related matters, and has twice been named by Radio Resources magazine as one of the “most influential people in public safety” communications.   Mr. Gurss has also received five “Presidential Awards” from the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials.  

In 2006, the Secretary of Commerce appointed Mr. Gurss to serve on the Spectrum Management Advisory Committee to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).  Mr. Gurss current chairs the committee’s work group on streamlining of federal/non-federal spectrum sharing.   He  has also been an active participant in the Public Safety Wireless Advisory Committee to the FCC and NTIA, the Public Safety National Coordination Committee, the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council, the National Task Force on Interoperability, and the Department of Homeland Security SAFECOM Program Executive Committee.  Mr. Gurss is a past-president of the Land Mobile Communications Council, a coalition of over 20 major associations representing the interests of wireless telecommunications licensees before the FCC.

Mr. Gurss has been a key player in the FCC’s 800 MHz proceeding, and served as chair of the 800 MHz Transition Administrator Search Committee.   He and other attorneys in the firm are currently representing dozens of incumbent licensees in the 800 MHz band reconfiguration process.  

Mr. Gurss is a frequent speaker on communications law issues and has written a monthly column in Public Safety Communications magazine for nearly 20 years.  He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar, the Radio Club of America, and the Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA).  Mr. Gurss serves as co-chair of the FCBA’s Ad Hoc Committee on Homeland Security and Emergency Communications.  He received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Michigan.

In addition to his position with Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth, Mr. Gurss also serves as Director of Legal and Government Affairs for the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International, Inc. (APCO).