Annual membership dues:
Voting Membership
- Private Sector Attorney
(law firms, companies, and industry associations, including 501 (c)(6) business organizations) – $225 - Academic Attorney
(Must have a .edu email address) – $80
- Government Attorney
(Must have a .gov email address) – $80 - Non-Profit Attorney
(501 (c)(3) non-profit organizations) – $100 - Transitional Attorney – $80
Non-Voting Membership
- Private Sector Non-Attorney
(law firms, companies, and industry associations, including 501 (c)(6) business organizations) – $225 - Academic Non-Attorney
(Must have a .edu email address) – $80 - Government Non-Attorney
(Must have a .gov email address) – $80 - Law Student – $35
- Non-Profit Non-Attorney
(501 (c)(3) non-profit organizations) – $100 - Paralegal – $100
- Retired – $60
- Transitional Non-Attorney $80
Membership Benefits
Networking Opportunities
The FCBA provides its members with opportunities to interact with and learn from industry leaders and key policy makers, including from Congress, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the Department of State, and the Department of Justice (DOJ). These opportunities include a range of regular association activities, such as:
- Cost-effective CLE programs on a wide variety of industry topics
- Directory of communications practitioners (both online and hard copy)
- Informal brown bag lunches and other events with government decision-makers
- Co-sponsored events with the Practicing Law Institute and major trade associations
- Annual FCC Chairman’s Dinner
- Annual Seminar
- Biennial Congressional Reception
- Receptions and other events with FCC Commissioners and Bureau Chiefs
- Annual Charity Auction
- Career Night
- Young Lawyers Committee
- FCBA Law Journal
- Telecommunications and Technology Moot Court Competition
Professional Development
FCBA members attend frequent professional development seminars on a variety of topics such as regulatory trends, technical issues, and economic analysis relevant to media, telecommunications, wireless, international regulation and Internet-related practices, among others. The FCBA provides training for newer lawyers and communications professionals through programs such as Comm Law 101, an introductory seminar on communications law, policy and technology issues. The FCBA also co-sponsors an annual program on telecommunications law and regulation, providing a thorough review of the current state of telecommunications regulation by key players from government and industry. The FCBA is a qualified CLE provider for Virginia and California bar members and facilitates securing CLE credit for its members in other jurisdictions. Materials from CLE seminars can be purchased on the FCBA website. The FCBA also has more than 30 committees that help provide member services; including subject-area committees that help practitioners stay current on regulatory and technical developments in their areas of expertise.
Community Service
FCBA members provide volunteer services to the community in a variety of ways, including through the FCBA Foundation, a non-profit charitable and educational organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Annual Foundation programs include providing college and law school scholarships, summer stipends to law students who have accepted public service internships in communications-related agencies and, together with the Young Lawyers Committee, hosting the Annual Charity Auction, which benefits DC-area charities.
FCBA News
Members receive a monthly electronic newsletter with information about upcoming FCBA activities and special events, a Job Bank, and timely articles on developments in the industry.
Young Lawyers Committee
FCBA membership offers professionals new to the communications industry an unparalleled opportunity to meet and network with their peers. The Young Lawyers Committee offers monthly happy hours, educational seminars, and informal luncheon and breakfast meetings, and participates in a variety of social, cultural, and athletic events. It also sponsors the Annual Charity Auction with the FCBA Foundation.
Membership Directory
This comprehensive directory, which is available free to attorney and professional members, lists the name, affiliation, address, contact numbers, and e-mail address of every FCBA member. It is published annually in book form and is also available to members in regularly updated electronic form through a secure link on the FCBA’s website.
Federal Communications Law Journal
Published in cooperation with The George Washington University Law School, the Federal Communications Law Journal affords interested members the opportunity to be involved in legal scholarship in the field. Past issues have featured articles on emerging services and technologies, federal and state regulation of communications, competition in domestic and international communications markets, and the convergence of communications and copyright. The law journal is also distributed electronically to all members.
Online Services
Through our website—www.fcba.org—the FCBA offers a wide range of online services, many of which are available only to FCBA members. The online services available to members include event registration, membership renewals and the FCBA membership directory. The FCBA also accepts applications for new members online. The FCBA website also contains current listings of upcoming activities and contact information for FCBA officials and committee chairs.
FCBA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
The FCBA Social Media Committee invites you to “Like” and “Follow” our pages today to be in the loop for upcoming events, share fun pictures of your FCBA friends and colleagues, and grow your social media network! Come join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter (@FCBALaw) and — newly launched — Instagram (@fcba_law).