Timothy ('Tim') Bransford provides guidance to clients on satellite, space, and wireless regulatory issues before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), other domestic agencies, and international regulators. For over twenty years, Tim has represented and advised publicly traded and privately held companies on a multitude of regulatory issues to secure government approvals in the satellite, space, and wireless industries. He has also assisted private equity entities in evaluating space and satellite companies for investment purposes.
Working with geostationary and non-geostationary satellite operators and cutting-edge space technology companies, Tim has obtained launch authority, market access authorization, special temporary authority, and experimental licenses from the FCC. He has also assisted clients in coordinating and obtaining approval to operate satellite ground stations and terrestrial wireless networks, as well as in areas of deep space research and imaging satellite networks.
Tim has represented a direct-to-device satellite company and obtained authorizations for operations, including the testing of satellite-based broadband services. He has also represented a lunar exploration company and secured authorizations to construct, deploy, and operate a lunar lander and to conduct TT&C and communications during transit and on the lunar surface.
Outside of the space and satellite arena, Tim has assisted manufacturers with devices that utilize wireless communications to obtain regulatory authority to operate or distribute such equipment or to advocate before the FCC on matters affecting those companies.
Recognition & Leadership
Awards & Accolades
•Team Member, Chambers USA Guide, Space, 2025
•Listed, The Legal 500 United States, Media, Technology and Telecoms, 2016-2020
•Telecoms and Broadcast: Regulatory, 2018-2020
•Telecoms and Broadcast: Transactional, 2016-2018
