Robert C. May III(858) 379-0188
RMay@chwlaw.us

Robert (“Tripp”) May specializes in wireless and wired communications infrastructure law, policy, and transactions. For more than 10 years, he has advised and represented both public agencies and private property owners, helping them navigate this unique-but-ubiquitous subject matter.

Prior to joining CHW, Tripp was the Managing Partner at Telecom Law Firm, PC, where he and founder Dr. Jonathan L. Kramer served public and private clients around the United States as the premiere non-industry legal counsel on communications infrastructure matters in the western United States.

His public agency work includes drafting and assisting public agencies to implement legislative and regulatory ordinances, policies, design guidelines and application procedures/forms; advising on deployment projects, from controversial cell sites to public/private partnerships; advocating for public agencies before the Federal Communications Commission; and representing public agencies in litigation and appellate matters, both within California and elsewhere in the United States.

His transactional practice focuses solely on representing property owners and landlords—both public and private. Tripp negotiates and drafts leases, licenses, franchises, easements, assignments, lease sale/buyout agreements, pole-attachment agreements, relocation agreements, redevelopment agreements and other contracts related to wireless and other telecommunications infrastructure. He also assists public and private landlords administer, amend and enforce existing infrastructure agreements, including litigation matters.

Tripp graduated with high honors with distinction in the major from UC Santa Barbara. He received his J.D. from USD School of Law, where he served as Executive Editor of the San Diego Law Review and as an Appellate Moot Court Competitor, Coach and Board Member.

Practice Areas:

  • Wireless and Wired Communications Infrastructure
  • Telecommunications Regulatory and Litigation
  • Telecommunications Transactional
  • Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Advocacy
  • Public Law
  • Contracts
  • Land use, Planning, and CEQA
  • Property Owner and Landlord Representation

Representative Cases and FCC Proceedings:

  • New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC v. City of Campbell, No. 24-cv-06195-NC (N.D. Cal.)
  • League of California Cities, et al. v. FCC, No. 20-71765 (9th Cir.)
  • City of Seattle, et al. v. FCC, No. 19-70136 (9th Cir.)
  • Crown Castle NG West LLC v. City of Malibu, No. 2:15-cv-06089-DSF-SS (C.D. Cal.)
  • Montgomery Cnty. v. FCC, No. 15-1240 (4th Cir.) (amicus)
  • In re Implementation of State and Local Governments’ Obligation to Approve Certain Wireless Facility Modification Requests, WT Docket No. 19-250
  • In re Accelerating Wireless Broadband Deployment by Removing Barriers to Infrastructure Investment, WT Docket No. 17-79
  • In re Accelerating Wireline Broadband Deployment by Removing Barriers to Infrastructure Investment, WC Docket No. 17-84
  • In re Streamlining Deployment of Small Cell Infrastructure by Improving Wireless Facilities Siting Policies, WT Docket No. 16-421
  • Proposed Amendment Nationwide Programmatic Agreement for the Collocation of Wireless Antennas, WT Docket No. 15-180
  • In re Acceleration of Broadband Deployment by Improving Wireless Facilities Siting Policies, WT Docket No. 13-238, WC Docket No. 11-59, WT Docket No. 13-32

Presentations:

  • NATOA Annual Conference: Small Cell & Wireless (August 2024)
  • Wireless West Conference: Eligible Facilities Requests (April 2024)
  • California Wireless Association Podcast: League of California Cities v. FCC (February 2024)
  • NATOA Webinar: League of California Cities v. FCC (August 2023)
  • California Association of Attorneys for Specialized Districts (CAASD) CLE Lecture: Updates and Current Trends in Telecom Law Affecting California Cities (December 2022)
  • Connectivity Expo Virtual Conference: Densifying the 5G Network (May 2022)
  • NATOA Webinar: Outdated Ordinances (September 2021)
  • CA Assembly Select Committee on Emerging Technologies and Innovation Select Panel: Next-Generation 5G Technology in California: Identifying its Opportunities and Challenges (August 2021)
  • IRWA Chapter 1 National Seminar: Telecom Site Valuation and Agreement Issues (May 2021)
  • eNATOA National Webinar: 5G: Convergence between the Wireline and Wireless Providers (February 2019)
  • AGL Local Landing Panel Discussion: Small Cell Deployment: Meshing Two Different Worlds (January 2019)
  • NBI, Inc. National Webcast: Cell and Wireless Tower Law (January 2019, February 2018, September 2016)
  • CA City Attorneys Spring Conference Lecture: Issues of Local Control and Wireless Telecommunications Facilities (May 2018)
  • New Mexico Municipal Attorneys Association Lecture: Wireless Facilities: Regulatory and Leasing Update (December 2017)
  • NATOA Annual Conference Panel Discussion: Infrastructure Deployment: Towers, Fiber and Small Cells (September 2017)
  • SCAN NATOA Panel Discussion: The State of Communications Law in California and the Nation (May 2017)
  • CA Cities Annual Conference Panel Discussion: Advance of Wireless Infrastructure (October 2016)
  • CTIA Super Mobility Panel Discussion: Small Cell Zoning: It’s a Problem, We Can Fix It (September 2016)
  • Wireless West Conference Panel Discussion: Section 6409 vs Reality (April 2016)
  • IWCE Expo Panel Discussion: Aesthetics and Location: The Small Cell Site Acquisition Puzzle (March 2016)
  • SCAN NATOA Panel Discussion: Primer on Wireless Shot Clocks – Northern California (February 2016)
  • SCAN NATOA Panel Discussion: Primer on Wireless Shot Clocks – Southern California (January 2016)
  • California Wireless Association Panel Discussion: Section 6409 (October 2015)
  • IMLA Webinar: Federal Law of Cell Tower Zoning Presentation (July 2015)
  • APA California Orange Section Panel Discussion: The Brave New World of Wireless Regulations for Planners (May 2015)
  • CCIM San Diego Chapter Panel Discussion: Trends in Cell Site Leasing (May 2015)
  • Alameda County Public Workshop: Navigating Cell Tower Regulations (April 2015)
  • Law Seminars International Panel Discussion: Practical Impacts of the New FCC Rules (February 2015)
  • Gateway Cities COG Panel Discussion: Wireless Communications Legislation: Impact on Cities (February 2015)
  • Arizona League of Cities Webinar: Wireless Infrastructure Regulatory Update (January 2015)
  • California Wireless Association Panel Discussion: Wireless Infrastructure Regulatory Update (January 2015)
  • SCAN NATOA Seminar: Telecommunications 101 (January 2015)
  • eNATOA Panel Discussion: Local Governments, Wireless Siting Practices and the FCC (December 2014)
  • CA Cities Annual Conference Panel Discussion: 4G Wireless Deployments: Zoning Challenges and Opportunities (September 2014)
  • SCAN NATOA Webinar: Wireless Facility Regulatory Update (March 2014)
  • League of California Cities Webinar: Telecom Infrastructure Deployment Under Safer-at-Home Orders (April 2010)

Publications:

  • Daily Journal: 9th Circuit Ruling Leaves Wireless Industry, Cities Claiming a Win (September 2024)
  • AGL: Small Cell Order Goes into Effect; Appeal Goes to 9th Circuit (January 2019)
  • Bloomberg: Challenge to FCC’s 5G Network Order Moves to Ninth Circuit (January 2019)
  • Northern News: AB 57: A brave new world for cell antennas (February 2016)
  • AGL: California Municipalities Push Back Against Cell Tower Bill (July 2015)
  • AGL: Calif. Appellate Court Affirms Local Aesthetic Control of Small Cells (September 2015)
  • Los Angeles Daily Journal: City Lawyers Fret About Too Many Cell Towers Under FCC Rule (February 2015)
  • California Planner & Development Reporter: New Rules on Wireless Towers May Frustrate Cities, Planners (January 2015)
  • Los Angeles Daily Journal: Wireless Sites: Rapid Deployment vs. Planned Development (November 2014)
  • AGL: Court Raises Bar for Least Intrusive Means Test (August 2014)
  • San Diego Union Tribune: Cell Tower Rules Get Thumbs Up From Planning Commission (July 2014)

Recognitions/Committees:

  • San Diego Rising Star, SuperLawyers (2021)
  • Member of the Year, SCAN NATOA (2014)

Admissions:

  • State of California
  • United States District Court for the Central District of California
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of California
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit