Geoffrey G. Why

A past Commissioner and General Counsel of the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Cable (DTC) who also has extensive experience in private practice at an AmLaw 100 firm, Geoff is uniquely qualified to help Verrill clients navigate all policy and regulatory concerns they may have in the area of telecommunications.

Geoff’s depth of knowledge in both state and federal regulations and the perspective he has gained from working as both a government official and an advocate in the cable, broadband, wireline, and wireless industries add value to organizations across the cable, broadband, wireline, and wireless industries. He counsels clients on creating consistent federal and state telecommunications policies that comply with all relevant regulations. His representative matters include:

• Advising a wireless provider on its merger
• Representing a trade association before state regulatory commissions regarding pole attachments, 911 fees, and state USF reform
• Representing clients before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on issues from Lifeline and Connect America Fund II

In his role as Commissioner, Geoff directed all administrative, legal, and policy priorities for the DTC, including spearheading state interests at the FCC regarding the wireless spectrum auction, public safety, broadband deployment, IP transition, and Universal Service Fund reform. He was also involved in adjudicating cable rate cases, handling interconnection disputes, and enabling wireless companies to do business in the Commonwealth as “eligible telecommunications carriers.” In addition, Geoff initiated investigations regarding telephone service quality and the federally funded Lifeline program. Drawing on this extensive industry experience, Geoff now represents clients before state public utilities commissions throughout the country and the FCC.

For telecommunications clients facing investigations or enforcement actions, Geoff leverages his prior litigation experience as an Assistant Attorney General in the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection and Antitrust Division, where he investigated and litigated matters related to consumer protection and antitrust law, with a focus on enforcement actions involving telecommunications and cable companies. Geoff also served as Assistant District Attorney at the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office Appellate Division.

In addition to Geoff’s thriving telecommunications practice, he was appointed Verrill’s first-ever Diversity Partner, with a goal to amplify the firm’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and ensure that there is a cohesive approach firmwide that fosters an environment where diversity in experience, backgrounds, culture, and perspectives is recognized and respected.

Prior to becoming an attorney, Geoff was a professional photographer, and he continues to enjoy photography as a hobby. In the winter, he likes to downhill ski, and in the summer, he avidly follows the San Francisco Giants and Boston Red Sox.

Services/Industries

• Telecommunications
• Energy

Education

• Boston College Law School (J.D.)
• Boston College (B.A.)

Public Service

• Board of Advisors, WGBH
• Board Member, Asian Community Development Corporation
• Board Member, Harry H. Dow Memorial Legal Assistance Fund
• President, St. Paul’s Choir School Parent Guild (2015-2017)
• Vice Chair, St. Paul’s Choir School Advisory Board
• Past Commissioner and Vice Chair, Massachusetts Asian American Commission
• Adjunct Professor, Boston College Law School, “Administrative Practice,” (2016-present)

Bar Admissions

• Massachusetts
• Washington, D.C.

Memberships

• Past Member, Boston College Law School Alumni Board
• Past Board Member, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners; past Member, Telecommunications Committee
• Past Chair, FCC’s Section 706 Joint Conference on Advanced Telecommunications Services
• Past Co-chair, FCC’s North American Numbering Council; Tri-chair, Selection Working Group
• Past Member, FCC’s Communications, Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council
• Past Co-chair, Massachusetts Attorney General’s Diversity Committee
• Past Board Member, Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts
• Past Board Member, Massachusetts Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights
• Past Member of New England Conference of Public Utilities Commissioners

Honors

• Recognized in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business under Telecom, Broadcast & Satellite
• Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts, 2016 Community Service Award
• Outstanding Service Award, New England Conference of Public Utilities Commissioners (2014)
• The Edward J. McCormack Jr. Award for Excellence, Office of the Attorney General of Massachusetts (2006)

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