Reginal J. Leichty

Reg Leichty is a partner of EducationCounsel LLC, an affiliate of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough. He provides comprehensive legal, federal legislative, media, and strategic planning services to state and local education agencies, national associations, foundations, and a variety of communications and technology firms.

Mr. Leichty focuses on helping his clients create and implement effective federal advocacy plans, including facilitating informed policy development, drafting complex legislation, supporting grassroots outreach and coalition building, and providing direct advocacy on Capitol Hill and before key federal agencies. His recent work includes counseling clients focused on the accountability, assessment, education technology, community engagement and safe schools provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. He also helps clients navigate the federal budget and appropriations process, including recently working to increase funding for the State Longitudinal Data Systems program and other key accounts.

Mr. Leichty's communications practice focuses on broadband and broadcast law and policy.  He represents organizations focused on broadband deployment to unserved and underserved communities as well as radio and television stations with interests before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Congress. His current work includes counseling broadcast stations on the FCC's political broadcast, Equal Employment Opportunity, and media ownership rules and on facilitating compliance with cable and satellite compulsory licensing requirements. He also assists all manner of entities in satisfying federal and state privacy laws, with a focus on helping public and private entities satisfy state data breach notification requirements.

Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Leichty served as a telecommunications and technology advisor to Senator Bob Kerrey of Nebraska and as Chief Counsel for Senator Bill Nelson of Florida. During his eight years on Capitol Hill, he worked extensively on education technology, data security, and other technology and new media issues pending before the Senate Commerce and Judiciary Committees.