Fred  Hopengarten

Fred Hopengarten

Antenna Law - zoning, permits, leases, FCC reporting
  • District of Columbia, Maine
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Claimed Lawyer Profile
Biography

Since 1990, Mr. Hopengarten has been a lawyer handling federal communications law matters -- especially those involving land use for antennas and towers. He has also been a consultant to venture capital firms. For example, he has advised on an investment in a two-way radio peripheral hardware manufacturer, and performed due diligence with a valuation on one of the largest mountain top antenna farms in the United States . He has also advised broadcasters with regard to leasing space on their towers, and land owners with respect to leasing land for towers. In addition, he founded Strong Signals LLC, a Maine company which owns and operates a major communications tower and site near Lewiston-Auburn.

In 2001, the American Radio Relay League published his book Antenna Zoning for the Radio Amateur, now in its Third Edition. In 2009, the Society of Broadcast Engineers sponsored the commercial version of his book, covering broadcast, and cellular antenna structures, WISP and other antenna installations. Antenna Zoning - Professional Edition (440 pages) was published by Focal Press, a division of Elsevier.

From 1978 to 1989, Mr. Hopengarten was President of Channel One, based in Newton, Massachusetts, a company providing equipment and installation services for home and commercial satellite earth stations, as well as temporary downlinks for ad hoc networks. He installed over 100 downlinks and 15 towers, obtaining building and zoning permits, buying hardware and climbing towers to erect antennas. Beginning as a start up, the company grew to operate private cable TV systems. Twelve years after its founding, the company was sold to Continental Cablevision (later Media One, then part of AT&T Broadband, then swallowed by Comcast).

Married to Betty Herr, M.D., Ph.D., St. Elizabeth's Medical Center.

BA, Colby College (Econ); JD, Boston College Law; MBA, Harvard Business School. Amateur radio K1VR; Director, ARRL-the national association for amateur radio.

Additional Practice Area
  • Antenna Law
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
District of Columbia
District of Columbia Bar
ID Number: 114124
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Maine
Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar
ID Number: 1660
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3rd Circuit
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Languages
  • French: Spoken, Written
  • German: Spoken
  • Spanish: Spoken
Professional Experience
President and General Counsel
Channel One
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Consultant, Juridical Services
Harbridge House
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Law Clerk to the Chairman
Federal Trade Commission
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Education
Harvard University
MBA (1972) | Marketing
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Boston College Law School
J.D. (1970)
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Activities: Appellate Moot Court Finalist
Boston College Law School Logo
Colby College
B.A. (1967) | Economics
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Activities: Varsity Tennis, Intercollegiate Debating
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Professional Associations
Maine State Bar  # 001660
Member
Current
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Publications
Articles & Publications
Antenna Zoning for the Radio Amateur, 3rd Ed.
ARRL
Antenna Zoning - Professional Edition
Elsevier
Speaking Engagements
Amateur Radio & the Law, Dayton HamVention, Dayton/Xenia, Ohio
Dayton Amateur Radio Club
Chairman, 2014 to present Speaker since 2000 Topics: CC&Rs, Flag Pole Antennas, PRB-1, RF Interference, RF Emissions
Websites & Blogs
Website
Contact & Map
Six Willarch Road
LINCOLN, MA 01773
Telephone: (781) 259-0088
Monday: 10 AM - 5 PM
Tuesday: 10 AM - 5 PM
Wednesday: 10 AM - 5 PM
Thursday: 10 AM - 5 PM (Today)
Friday: 10 AM - 5 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed