Communications Law and Policy Society of Syracuse University

About CLPS

Goals and Objectives
Membership

CLPS seeks to bring together an active group of academics, practitioners, and students in the Syracuse area with interests in the communications field, to introduce the community-at-large to the different facets of communications law, and to engage in a dialogue about the legal and policy developments in legal, regulatory, and legislative arenas. CLPS plans to provide a talented pool of educated, skillful, and passionate future attorneys to employers by working with the university administration to enhance the course offerings in communications law and by working with practitioners in bring relevant lectures to the school.

Activities
Recent Activities

In September 2005, the Communications Law and Policy Society became an official student organization recognized by the Senate.

In November 2005, the Senate granted funding of almost $1000 to support the first-ever Syracuse team at the 12th Annual Federal Communications Moot Court Competition at Catholic University. The problem at this year’s appellate advocacy competition focused on creating a family-friendly tier of programming on cable and satellite and whether the FCC exceeded it’s authority by creating this new tier. Teams submitted a brief and delivered oral arguments before a panel of practicing attorneys who specialize in communications law at the appellate advocacy competition. Competitors included seven other law schools: George Washington University, Georgetown University, Indiana University, University of Colorado, Southwestern University, University of Baltimore, and Catholic University. Rich Strong of Charter Communications and Elise Hiller of the New York Cable Association advised the team. SUCOL team members included David Ray, Amy Vanderlyke, and Jacob Wolfsheimer.

CLPS worked with the SUCOL Office of Advancement to sponsor a breakfast and practicing session with SU alums and friends of communications law at alumni house in Washington, DC. Participants included Eric Bernthal, Latham & Watkins; Ron Russo, Cohn Marks; Krista Witanowski & John Burgett, Wiley Rein & Fielding, LLP; Danielle Burt, Swidler Berlin; Joe DiScipio, Fletcher Heald & Hildreth.

The team also met with the Communications Practice of Patton Boggs, LLP and discussed the competition, areas of interest to Patton Boggs, and avenues for a relationship between the firm and the school.

In February 2006, the Sports & Entertainment Law Society and the Corporate Law Society joined with CLPS to sponsor an academic panel on “Global Governance of Communication.” The panel discussed the changes in global communication and information policy set in motion by the World Summit on the Information Society, focusing in particular on the problem of Internet governance at the international level. Speakers included Dr. Milton Mueller, School of Information Studies and Internet Governance Project; Dr. John Mathiason, Maxwell School and Internet Governance Project; Raed al Sharif, doctoral candidate, School of Information Studies; and Mawaki Chango, doctoral candidate, School of Information Studies.

Officers
Jennifer Holtz, President & Founder
Danielle Biber, Executive Vice-President
Shaina Schallop, VP of External Outreach
Chris Naoum, SU Outreach Chair
Christina Steinbrecker, Treasurer
Brett Barthelmeh, Fundraising Chair
John Russell, Events Coordinator

Faculty Advisory Board
Patricia Longstaff, Syracuse University Newhouse School for Communication
Milton Mueller, Syracuse University School of Information Studies