In Memoriam: Michael T. N. Fitch

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our friend and colleague Michael Fitch, on July 22, 2022. Mike joined the firm in 2015 as Senior Counsel, a position he held until his retirement earlier this year.

Mike spent the first 20 years of his extensive career at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), where he advanced from Staff Attorney to Division Chief, Bureau Chief, and ultimately Senior Legal and International Advisor to the Chairman.

He moved to the U.S. Department of State, where he was an Office Director and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Communications and Information Policy Bureau during the Clinton Administration. While there, he led U.S. delegations to Inmarsat, Intelsat, and International Telecommunication Union meetings.

Following his government service, Mike became the Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Spectrum Management at Hughes Communications, now DirecTV. While at Hughes, he was a member of the Board of Directors and the Chairman of the Board of the Satellite Industry Association. When Hughes Space and Communications was acquired by Boeing in 2001, Mike continued his regulatory affairs and spectrum management roles and took on new responsibilities involving Homeland Security. While at Boeing, he was also Vice President of the U.S. ITU Association.

From 2005-2012, Mike was President and CEO of PCIA (now the Wireless Infrastructure Association). At PCIA, he led a successful legislative effort that resulted in the passage of Section 6409(a) of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, which mandates collocation by right at many wireless towers and sites in the U.S.

In 2015, Mike joined Keller and Heckman’s Telecommunications Practice, bringing with him over 40 years of telecommunications experience with the unique perspective of working with both government and industry. We are very fortunate to have been able to work with Mike. He will be missed by his colleagues at Keller and Heckman, his family, and his friends.