Scott H Angstreich

Practice Areas

Telecommunications

Career

Scott Angstreich litigates regulatory matters before courts and agencies on behalf of communications companies and their trade associations, energy companies, and tech companies. He has extensive experience arguing cases in federal and state appellate courts nationwide.

Scott’s practice encompasses a wide array of regulatory, litigation, and appellate matters, with a particular focus on administrative law and telecommunications. He also advises clients on issues of compliance with complex regulatory schemes and contracts.

Scott has argued more than 50 appeals, including once before the United States Supreme Court, as well as arguments in 12 different U.S. Courts of Appeals and two state supreme courts. Scott has also argued more than 45 dispositive motions in federal district courts and state trial courts, and has served as lead trial counsel in bench trials in federal and state courts and before arbitration panels.

Publications

The Insiders’ Guide to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, in Council of Appellate Lawyers, Appellate Practice Compendium (2012) (co-author, with Andrew S. Oldham)

Shoring Up Chevron: A Defense of Seminole Rock Deference to Agency Regulatory Interpretations, 34 U.C. Davis L. Rev. 49 (2000)

Expert in these Jurisdictions

Washington, DC

Education

Work Highlights

Argued Verizon’s challenge to a $47 million FCC fine for allegedly mishandling device-location data, on the grounds that the penalty exceeds the FCC’s statutory authority and violates the Seventh Amendment. Verizon Communications Inc. v. FCC, No 24-1733 (2nd Cir. April 29, 2025)

Represented AT&T in successfully defending a district court’s dismissal of a complaint to collect more than $11 million in amounts allegedly due under Core’s tariff. Core Commc’ns, Inc. v. AT&T Enters., LLC, No. 23-3022, 2024 WL 3617294 (3d Cir. Aug. 1, 2024)

Represented a major energy marketer before the D.C. Circuit in a successful Mobile-Sierra challenge to a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission order requiring the marketer to pay refunds for electricity sales, which the court vacated. Shell Energy North America (US), L.P. v. FERC, 107 F.4th 981 (D.C. Cir. 2024)

Represented four trade associations for providers of broadband internet access service in obtaining a permanent injunction of a New York law regulating retail broadband prices, argued in defense of that ruling in Second Circuit, and negotiated a continued stay of the law, which expired in January 2025, during Supreme Court proceedings. New York State Telecommunications Ass’n, Inc. v. James, 544 F. Supp. 3d 269 (E.D.N.Y. 2021), rev’d, 101 F.4th 135 (2d Cir. 2024)

Represents a major telecommunications company in False Claims Act cases involving allegations of 911 charge underbilling brought in 15 different jurisdictions. Argued in multiple state trial and appellate courts to obtain and defend dismissals of those actions. E.g., North Carolina ex rel. Expert Discovery, LLC v. AT&T Corp., 882 S.E.2d 660, 2022-NCCOA-837 (2022)

Represents a news publisher and obtained a dismissal of a putative class action filed in District of Columbia federal court alleging violations of the Video Privacy Protection Act, which we are defending on appeal. Pileggi v. Washington Newspaper Publishing Co., LLC, 2024 WL 324121 (D.D.C. Jan. 29, 2024), appeal pending, No. 24-7022 (D.C. Cir.)

Represented a major telecommunications company in obtaining a declaratory ruling from the Federal Communications Commission that federal law preempts discriminatory state 911 laws and successfully argued in defending that ruling on appeal in the Eleventh Circuit. Autauga County Emergency Management Communication District v. FCC, 17 F.4th 88 (11th Cir. 2021)

Represented a provider of a major music streaming service and argued before the D.C. Circuit in a successful challenge to a Copyright Royalty Board decision, and represented that provider in administrative proceedings before the Copyright Royalty Board on remand. Johnson v. Copyright Royalty Board, 969 F.3d 363 (D.C. Cir. 2020)

Represented a major telecommunications company before the Seventh Circuit and successfully argued for reversal of a $50 million judgment. Peerless Network, Inc. v. MCI Communications Services, Inc., 917 F.3d 538 (7th Cir. 2019)

Represented a major telecommunications company in a successful argument before the Fifth Circuit defending a defense verdict in a fraudulent transfer suit seeking a more than $10 billion judgment. U.S. Bank National Ass’n v. Verizon Communications Inc., 761 F.3d 409 (5th Cir. 2014)

Awards