Duties

The incumbent serves as a primary expert on foreign ownership issues under section 310 of the Act and other matters, including international telecommunications authorizations under section 214 of the Act, submarine cable licenses under the Cable Landing License Act of 1921 and Executive Order No. 10530. The incumbent provides legal advice and services at the highest level of responsibility on projects involving extremely complex legal, factual, and policy issues. The incumbent also provides a high level of original and creative analysis, interpretation, and formulation of policy positions and regulatory provisions on an original basis. The incumbent maintains a broad perspective on the functions and activities of the Division and the Bureau. Conducts foreign ownership review of initial authorizations, spectrum auction winners, assignments, and transfers of control for common carrier licenses to ensure compliance with section 310 of the Act and Commission rules. Drafts and reviews orders and public notices related to petitions for declaratory rulings, waivers, and declaratory rulings. Coordinates with other bureaus and offices within the FCC regarding foreign ownership issues. Drafts complex legal documents such as Notices of Proposed Rulemakings, Reports and Orders, and foreign ownership declaratory rulings that require application of the incumbent's expert knowledge of section 310 and other matters, including international telecommunications authorizations under section 214 of the Act, submarine cable licenses under the Cable Landing License Act of 1921 and Executive Order No. 10530. Plans, provides direction for, and carries out broad and complex policy planning, policy review, or rulemaking proceedings and inquiries. Participates in the development of long-range goals and objectives for the Bureau and the Commission on complex issues of significant public importance. Acts as principal attorney on projects with the assistance of lower-level attorneys and other professionals, and as principal attorney reviews their work. Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Bar Membership Documentation Required Upon Selection.
• Education-Transcripts Required Upon Selection.
• US Citizenship.
• Suitable for employment as determined by a background investigation.
• Serve a probationary period of one year, if applicable.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
• Financial disclosure statement may be required upon assuming the position.
• Education-Transcripts Required
• Drug Testing Required.
• All federal employees must submit SF-50 verifying grade and status

Please note your resume must thoroughly support your responses to the vacancy questions. Your resume is an integral part of the process for determining if you meet the basic qualifications of the position and determining if you are to be among the best qualified.

Current and former federal employees must provide a copy of their SF-50 to satisfy time in grade requirements. If an SF-50 is not submitted to verify time in grade, the applicant will be rated as ineligible. If you are a current FCC employee, you may request a copy of your SF-50 by sending an email to PersonnelRecordsRequest@fcc.gov

Qualifications

Applicants must meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Professional law experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.

In order to be deemed as "BEST QUALIFIED" candidates must meet both the educational requirements AND the Specialized Experience.

A. Education

You must meet the minimum basic educational requirements for Attorney positions. Education requirements include: a professional law degree JD, LL.B., and/or LL.M.

NOTE-If you do not provide a transcript at the time of application, a transcript will be required to be provided at the time of selection.


AND

B. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Specialized experience is experience which is in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Applicants must have a minimum of one year of specialized experience in or equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service.

FOR THE GS-14 LEVEL: In addition to meeting the educational requirements, you must possess at least three years of professional law experience and at least one year of that experience must be specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-13 level in the Federal service. For this position, specialized experience includes the following:

Experience writing complex rulemakings, such as Report and Orders, Notices of Proposed Rulemaking, Petitions for Declaratory Ruling and/or other legal documents that reflect sound legal analysis and recommendations;

Experience analyzing legal issues including weighing implications, identifying potential problems and proposing solutions to international telecommunications issues, such as foreign ownership, international Section 214 applications, submarine cable landing licensing, and/or other telecommunications matters;

Experience providing expert legal advice and guidance to senior managers or officials within or outside an organization to resolve complex legal issues;

Experience collaborating with other individuals with diverse viewpoints to resolve complex legal and policy issues.

FOR THE GS-15 LEVEL: In addition to meeting the educational requirements, you must possess at least three years of professional law experience and at least one year of that experience must be specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-14 level in the Federal service. For this position, specialized experience includes the following:

Experience serving as an expert legal advisor on foreign ownership and/or other international telecommunications matters;

Experience making recommendations to managers to address extremely complex and unique issues for which there are no existing legal precedent;

Experience writing complex rulemakings, such as Report and Orders, Notices of Proposed Rulemaking, Petitions for Declaratory Ruling and/or other legal documents that reflect sound legal analysis and recommendations;

Experience collaborating with other individuals with diverse viewpoints to resolve extremely complex legal and policy issues;

Experience analyzing legal issues including weighing implications, identifying potential problems and proposing solutions to international telecommunications issues, such as foreign ownership, international section 214 applications, submarine cable landing licensing, and/or other telecommunications matters.

Education

Refer to Educational requirements outlined within the "Qualifications" section.

Additional information

EEO Policy Statement

Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement

Veterans Information

Legal and Regulatory Guidance

Before hiring, an agency will ask you to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. The agency will also ask you to sign and certify the accuracy of all the information in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or you may be fined or jailed. If you are a male over age 18 who was born after December 31, 1959, you must have registered with the Selective Service System (or have an exemption) to be eligible for a Federal job.

Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.

*NOTE-This position is in the bargaining unit. The exclusive representative is NTEU Chapter 209.