Biographical Data for Partners, Associates and Professional Staff

Harold Mordkofsky, Partner
202-828-5520
halmor at bloostonlaw dot com

Harold Mordkofsky, a co-founding partner of the firm, has been continuously engaged in the private practice of communications law since 1967, after having served for two years as senior attorney to the Chief of what is now the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. His experience covers a broad spectrum of the wireless field, including cellular, PCS, and other mobile communications technologies, 700 MHz and other fixed broadband systems, E-911, paging, point-to-point microwave, BETRS, multipoint distribution systems and RF equipment authorizations. He has been involved in every aspect of the practice: FCC applications and litigation, spectrum auctions, enforcement proceedings, rulemakings, FCC and state regulatory commission hearings and appellate practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals. Mr. Mordkofsky (who also holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering) oversees the firm's consulting engineering department as well. The firm's engineering expertise has assisted its clients in making highly technical presentations to the FCC and other agencies, and in ensuring compliance with the FCC's technical rules.

Benjamin H. Dickens, Jr., Partner
202-828-5510
bhd at bloostonlaw dot com

Benjamin H. Dickens, Jr. is a partner in the Washington, DC based telecommunications firm of Blooston, Mordkofsky, Dickens, Duffy & Prendergast, engaged in the firm's telephone regulation practice and its international telecommunications practice.  Ben's background includes six years of experience before the Florida Public Service Commission, between 1978 and 1984, where he litigated state regulatory proceedings on telecommunications. He also represented a national association of state regulatory officials, at the federal level, during this period, in the proceeding involving the break-up of the Bell system, and other federal matters. Mr. Dickens has been with the Blooston law firm since 1984 and focuses his practice on non-radio common carrier matters, such as interconnection, tariff matters, complaints and other matters concerning the regulation of common carriers. Ben is also general counsel to the leading national trade association of burglar and fire alarm companies. Ben speaks Spanish and also is active in Latin American telecommunications matters.

John A. Prendergast, Managing Partner
202-828-5540
jap at bloostonlaw dot com

John Prendergast joined the firm in 1983. He has practiced primarily in the area of wireless telecommunications and private radio regulation and licensing, including cellular, PCS, AWS, LMDS, 39 GHz, paging, WiFi/WiMax, microwave, and private land mobile. He regularly advises clients on how to structure transactions involving companies holding FCC licenses, and has represented clients in numerous rulemakings shaping the FCC's rules governing wireless. Mr. Prendergast also has prepared numerous applications and agreements to participate in the FCC's auctions of radio spectrum for various services, and has helped these clients with the structuring of the applicant to maximize its advantages in the auction. He has also assisted clients in negotiating and drafting affiliation and similar agreements. Mr. Prendergast has assisted clients in testifying before Congress on telecommunications issues, and in meeting with their Congressional delegation to review telecom-related concerns. He has also helped clients with tower compliance, RF radiation and historic preservation/zoning issues.  

He graduated summa cum laude from Loyola College , and cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center.

Gerard J. Duffy, Partner
202-828-5528
gjd at bloostonlaw dot com

Gerard J. Duffy has been a BloostonLaw partner since January 1, 1992.  His areas of practice have focused upon rural telephone companies, commercial mobile radio, cable television and Internet issues. 

Mr. Duffy was born and raised in Rochester, New York.  He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Villanova University and a Juris Doctor (with honors) degree from the George Washington University Law School.  He also holds graduate degrees in economics from the University of Illinois , and in accounting from Virginia Tech.  

Mr. Duffy is counsel for the Public Policy Committee of the Western Telecommunications Alliance, and a member of OPASTCO's Separations and Access Committee.  He has spoken on local competition, universal service, CALEA, CPNI, numbering and related telecommunications issues at Western Telecommunications Association, OPASTCO, National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA) and state telephone association meetings and seminars. 

Richard D. Rubino, Partner
202-828-5519
rdr at bloostonlaw dot com

Richard Rubino joined the firm in 1989, initially practicing in the private radio area.  Mr. Rubino’s practice has centered primarily on transactional issues involving companies regulated by the FCC, as well as on private radio and common carrier licensing, including:  private land mobile, paging, mobile telephone (PCS and SMR) and point-to-point microwave.   Mr. Rubino is assisting our 800 MHz clients in the Sprint Nextel rebanding of the 800 MHz band.  Mr. Rubino also advises our office clients regarding antenna siting and tower registration issues. Mr. Rubino has been involved in a number of enforcement proceedings before the FCC involving transactional, licensing and antenna structure compliance issues, and has assisted our clients in making necessary changes to their operations in order to come into regulatory compliance with the FCC’s rules. Additionally, Mr. Rubino assists our clients in meeting their annual common carrier employment reporting and FCC regulatory fee payment requirements. Mr. Rubino is experienced in the Commission’s Universal Licensing System (ULS) and served on an industry panel that assisted the FCC in the redesign of its Antenna Structure Registration computer interface. 

Education:  Old Dominion University , B.A. 1982; Oklahoma City University School of Law, J.D. 1985

Robert M. Jackson, Of Counsel
202-828-5515
rmj at bloostonlaw dot com

Robert M. Jackson joined the firm in 1982. He represents primarily cellular and other wireless carriers, and has assisted clients in structuring their business ventures to participate in wireless in the most advantageous manner. Mr. Jackson was involved in the successful prosecution of a number of cellular comparative hearing cases before the FCC and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. He has assisted clients with issues such as environmental protection and wireless E911, CALEA and number portability compliance among other things, as well as assisting clients in the spectrum auctions process.

Mary J. Sisak, Partner
202-828-5554
mjs at bloostonlaw dot com

Mary Sisak joined the firm in 1999. Her practice area includes the representation of independent telephone companies and wireless carriers in a broad range of legal and policy matters, including matters relating to the implementation of the 1996 Telecommunications Act such as universal service and interconnection. Ms. Sisak also advises carriers on compliance with FCC rules and regulations.

D. Cary Mitchell, Partner
202-828-5538
cary at bloostonlaw dot com

Cary Mitchell joined the firm in 1995. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1985 (A.B. English), the Newhouse School of Public Communications in 1986 (M.S. Journalism) and from Syracuse University College of Law in 1993 (Juris Doctor). He is admitted to the bars of the State of New York and the District of Columbia and is a member of the Federal Communications Bar Association. Mr. Mitchell practices primarily in the area of wireless telecommunications, advising independent telephone companies and entrepreneurs on regulatory matters including participation in FCC spectrum auctions, license transfer and assignment, corporate formation, and compliance with FCC rules. He has also advised clients in the negotiation and drafting of PCS affiliation and management agreements, spectrum lease agreements, the review of state and local zoning regulations for the siting of wireless facilities, the negotiation of incumbent microwave relocation agreements, and wireless carrier obligations in the provision of enhanced 9-1-1 services.

Salvatore Taillefer, Jr.
202-828-5562
sta at bloostonlaw dot com

Salvatore Taillefer, Jr. joined the firm in August of 2007 after graduating from the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law earlier in the year. His is admitted to both the Florida and District of Columbia bars and is a member of the Federal Communications Bar Association. Mr. Taillefer works with both wireline and wireless carriers on wide array of legal issues, from basic regulatory compliance to auction participation to federal contract and tariff disputes. His work also includes application and response to applications under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s Broadband Technology Opportunities and Broadband Infrastructure Programs.

Perry W. Woofter, Legislative Consultant

Perry Woofter is the Legislative Consultant to the firm. He previously served as Administrative Assistant and Chief of Staff to senior U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd; Counsel and Chief Government Representative to the American Petroleum Institute; and Chief Trial Examiner of the Public Utilities Commission of West Virginia. He has considerable experience in the financing of substantial domestic and international business ventures.

Eugene Maliszewskyj, Engineer
202-828-5536
ema at bloostonlaw dot com

Eugene Maliszewskyj graduated from Villanova University in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and shortly thereafter joined the FCC as an Electronics Engineer in the Safety and Special Radio Service Bureau (subsequently renamed the Private Radio Bureau). Mr. Maliszewskyj's responsibilities include preparation of FCC application filings, technical guidance to clients and monitoring of FCC rulemakings, especially those involving private radio matters.

Paul K. Shultz, Communications Director
202-828-5566
pks at bloostonlaw dot com

Paul Shultz has spent 20 years as a telecommunications writer and editor. Before joining BloostonLaw as Communications Director, where he edits the firm’s newsletters, he served as Director of Communications and Membership Affairs at the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA).  He was also Editorial Director of Phillips Business Information's wireless newsletter group, and a former Managing Editor for Telecommunications Reports and TR Wireless News. Mr. Shultz has authored or co-authored white papers on tribal telecom issues and rural broadband deployment, as well as wireless issues such as PCS and 3G. He holds two graduate degrees from The Johns Hopkins University.