Edward A. Maldonado, Esq.
Primary Counsel and Founding Attorney
Admitted to Florida Bar- October 23, 1997
United States District Court, Southern District of Florida – 1999
United States District Court, Middle District of Florida – 2024
United States Federal Court of Claims – 2016
United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit – 1999
Education
B.A. Political Science– DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois.
Juris Doctor – Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, Illinois.
Juris Doctor Certificate in International and Comparative Law -IIT, Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, Illinois.
Languages
English and Spanish
Background
Mr. Maldonado is a Florida and federal attorney practicing since 1997, specializing in telecommunications, technology, and Internet law with focus on Privacy regulations, and digital commerce. He is admitted to the Florida Bar, U.S. District Courts (Southern and Middle Districts of Florida), U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and the U.S. Federal Court of Claims. He has appeared Pro Hac Vice in federal cases in the U.S. District Courts of Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington State, and represents clients in litigation within all circuits and district courts of appeal throughout Florida.
Core Practice Areas
Federal & Florida Civil Litigation
Florida Criminal Litigation related to Digital Evidence
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) matters, enforcement actions & broadcaster/telecommunications licensure
U.S. Telecommunications & Privacy Law
Technology Law & Litigation involving digital evidence, data breaches, and unauthorized access to computer systems
E-commerce, fintech, and digital currency payment systems transactions, compliance & defense
Internet marketing, Privacy Law, TCPA/TRACED Act defense, & marketing compliance programs
Federal Class Action Claims under TCPA, DNC, FTSA & similar laws
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) & Florida OAG instigations and litigation on unfair trade practice claims and online advertising
Federal Agency Investigations & defense including DOJ (Civil) & Inspector General Investigations,
Copyright, trademark, & DMCA defense for online businesses
Drafting and Enforcement of Software & platform services (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS) including contracts, licensing, and terms of service
Mergers and Acquisitions
Negotiations, Mediation and Pre-Suit Informal Dispute Resolution
Notable Experience
Mr. Maldonado has litigated international claims in federal courts representing both commercial entities and sovereign states. He participated in drafting the Illinois Phone Card Fraud Act (2005), a landmark consumer protection law. He has served as a board member of a NASDAQ-listed fintech company and has extensive experience in mobile top-ups, merchant processing, and MSB compliance.
Mr. Maldonado has defended numerous companies in FCC enforcement proceedings, federal class action lawsuits, and investigations by the FTC, the FCC Inspector General, the Department of Justice, the Social Security Administration OIG, and state attorneys general. His recent work emphasizes TCPA and TRACED Act compliance and defense for telecom providers and marketing companies, focusing on practical solutions for robocall and spam text mitigation that bridge industry needs with regulatory requirements.
Over the course of his career, Mr. Maldonado has assisted more than 500 companies with licensure before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and State Utility Commission. He has worked with foreign-owned communication clients to obtain consent from the U.S. Department of Justice, National Security Division to acquire FCC 214 licensure in the U.S. and obtain FCC approval for the transfer of control of ownership in mergers and acquisitions, and VSAT operations. In addition to licensure, Mr. Maldonado has successfully defended and negotiated voluntary compliance agreements (Consent Decrees) with the FCC for technical violations of compliance reporting, and violations of the Federal Communications Act.
In 2004, Mr. Maldonado participated in the drafting and passage of, the Illinois Phone Card Fraud Act (effective July 1, 2005), a law aimed at curbing consumer fraud by unstable and uncertified providers. He has been consulted on a number of proposed bills and prospective legislation on technology and consumer regulation throughout the US since that time.
Mr. Maldonado has also written extensively in trade magazines including being the founding author of a regular telecom legal column called “Legal Line” published by “The Prepaid Press” which addressed legal issues related to telecom, the prepaid calling and stored value service industries.
Mr. Maldonado is proficient in Spanish and has active contact with attorneys and legal professionals in Europe, Latin America and Brazil.
Mr. Maldonado has been a Speaker at Industry Conferences including conferences on Stored Value (Fintech), the All Wireless & Pre-Paid Expo (Prepaid Communications and International Top-Up services) and for Conferences of CANTO Members (Privacy and Data Breach Policies and Law). He has also taught as an adjunct professor at Florida International University School of Law for certification programs on courses on administrative law and response to administrative/agency subpoenas and investigations.
Mr. Maldonado is in the process of CIPP/US certification and is expected to be certified by 2026.
Mr. Maldonado’s Practice Areas further include:
FCC Regulatory & Licensing: Tower, VSAT, Earth station (FCC 312), spectrum auction representation, Transfer of Control/M&A with Team Telecom (DOJ) foreign ownership review
Broadcasters: AM/FM radio and television station licensure, compliance, FCC enforcement defense, and business transactions
FCC Equipment Authorization: Part 15 certification for new and existing technology products, verification of conformity, import certification for electronics and devices
Telecommunications & VoIP: Registration, licensure, state certification (Florida CLEC/ETC), carrier agreements, and regulatory compliance
Mergers & Acquisitions: Representation for e-commerce, technology, telecom, broadcasters, and start-up transactions including data migration and regulatory approvals
Internet, E-Commerce & Data Privacy: U.S. data privacy law, private sector data collection/use, government/court access, data breaches, security failures, and IOT matters
Federal & State Litigation: Civil litigation, appeals, arbitration, and mediation in Florida and federal courts; Pro Hac Vice/Co-Counsel for complex communications, internet, and technology cases nationwide
Regulatory Defense: FCC enforcement actions, FTC and state attorney general investigations for marketing practices, internet marketing, and unfair trade practices
Start-ups & Corporate Counsel: External corporate and privacy counsel for online businesses, mobile applications, fintech, and social platforms
International & OFAC Compliance for Transactions with Latin America and Caribbean with foreign fintech providers
Intellectual Property: Trademark, copyright, and branding planning and defense for communications, technology, and online businesses
Corporate Structuring: Formation and structuring of technology and online businesses operating in the U.S. and throughout the Americas
Sample of Notable Litigation Work Publicly Available
Casanas v. Tandron, 406 So. 3d 288 (Fla. 3d DCA 2025). Successful Interlocutory Appeal reversing provisions of the summary judgment order enjoining clients from acting on behalf of a Masonic Lodge and directing immediate turnover of property with remand for further proceedings consistent with proper procedures for resolving factual disputes. Underlying case went to jury trial with unanimous verdict in favor of the clients.
Derouhe Shegian v. Select Home Warranty, LLC, Case No. 2:2024-cv-05628, .S. Dist. Ct. for District of New Jersey (2024). Settled Class allegations on individual class representative basis in Pre-Trial Phase.
Office Of The Attorney General, State Of Florida, Department Of Legal Affairs v. Smartbiz Telecom LLC, Case No.: 1:22-cv-23945-JEM, U.S. Dist. Ct. Southern Jurisdiction (2022). Successfully defended Florida Attorney General claims of violation of TRACED Act, TCPA and Unfair Trade Practices by Intermediate Voice Service Provider and settled prior to trial under stipulated compliance Order.
Federal Trade Commission v. Digital Income System, Inc. et. al., Case 1:20-cv-24721-MGC U.S. Dist. Ct. Southern Jurisdiction (2020). Represented Social Media Influencer stipulated to compliance injunction separate from other Parties.
Mark Hoffman v Hearing Help Express, Inc., Triangular Media Corp. et al, Case No.: 3:19-cv-05960-RBL U.S. Dist. Ct. Western District of Washington (2019) Successfully represented Online Leads Generators in Class action settlement reached before Trial.
Bellsouth Telecom, LLC v. Azul Tel, Inc. US District Court Southern District of Florida Docket No. 1:13-cv-20562-MGC. Firm defended and settled Federal Statute Violation Claim on Local Access Charges owed by Prepaid Calling Card Provider for use of Local Access Numbers for Long Distance Prepaid Calls and substantially mitigated damages.
Lylle Araya-Solorzano vs. Government of the Republic of Nicaragua et. al. 562 Fed. Appx. 901; 2014 U.S. App. LEXIS 6565 (2014). Firm served as Defense Counsel in Federal District Court Case, the dismissal of case, and as Federal Appellee Counsel on behalf of the Government of The Republic of Nicaragua and The INSS (Instituto Nicaraguense de Seguridad), Prevailed on Motions and Appeal to uphold Dismissed Claim against a sovereign state in excess of $12 Million.
Lozano v. Caribbean Broadcasting Systems, Inc. et al. Case No.: 09-46461-CA-01, Circuit Court of Miami-Dade County, Florida (2011), Served as Lead Trial Counsel at trial against On-Air Radio personality who sued Miami, Florida FM Radio Station under a five count complaint under Fla. Minimum Wage Act, Fla. Stat. 448.110, although written TBA existed seeking class status past hourly work and commissions for sales of commercials and his “air-time.” Mr. Maldonado was brought into the case only weeks before trial and conducted a three-day Jury Trial and successfully obtained directed verdict on four of the five counts alleged with Jury awarding damages on single count for less than jurisdictional threshold damages.
Exigent Technology v. Prepaid Network, et al Case No.:1:03-CV-23400 (2003-2009) Served as Defense Counsel for Prepaid Network in Federal District Court Case of alleged Patent Infringement, until consolidation and transfer of case from the U.S. District Court for the Southern Jurisdiction of Florida to EDNY and then served as lead settlement Counsel for Defendant resulting in an Out of Court settlement.
Examples of Notable Agency Work
In the Matter of Laser Technologies d/b/a Laser Tech, Federal Communications Commission, Enforcement Bureau Case No.: EB-TCD-12-00000223: Firm mitigated a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (NAL) fine in the amount of $252,000 to $20,000USD for Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (“TCPA”) violations, 26 FCC Rcd. 10792 (2011), in form of Voluntary Contribution based upon economic hardship and particular factual grounds with Commission review thereof. 29 FCC Rcd. 2658 (2014).
AT&T vs Prepaid Calling Companies for Local Access Charge Claims. Federal Litigation. Served as Defense Strategy Counsel and Lead Negotiator (appeared Pro Hac Vice in the federal courts outside the State of Florida) in federal litigation between ILEC and Prepaid Calling Companies on claims of unpaid Local Access Charges – firm’s efforts resulted in the settlement of all claims, voluntary dismissal of lawsuit, and mitigating damages in excess 65%.
FCC vs. Prepaid Calling Companies for Unfair Marketing Practices Cases. Regulatory Defense. Served as Regulatory Counsel to Prepaid Calling Companies on FCC claims of Unfair Trade Practices; engaged Commission in Consent Decree Negotiations to resolve issues and proposed fines in excess of 5 million USD and raised Constitutional issues related to subject matter settling the matter in the U.S. District Court for 4% of fine sought by Commission.
FCC vs. Various Telecommunications and VoIP Providers for CPNI (Customer Data Retention/Sharing) Certification Violations. Regulatory Defense. Served as regulatory counsel for ninety (90) various small to medium sized telecommunication and VoIP providers in relation to Annual CPNI Certification, Omnibus Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture, 25 FCC Rcd 1795 (Enf. Bur. 2010) (Omnibus NAL). All cases settled through Consent Decree Negotiations and settled with substantial fine reductions or Citations (Warning) or substantial fine reduction of more than 70%.
FCC vs. Small-Sized and Community Radio Stations for Technical Violations. Served as Regulatory Defense Counsel for various small-sized and community Radio Stations (AM/FM/LPFM/ and Translators) on Technical Violations cited and found by the FCC and Commission Field Offices. Firm mitigated proposed fines and provided consultation of compliance changes, post-violation.
Administrative Subpoenas, Letters of Inquiry, and Agency Investigations. Served as Regulatory Defense Counsel during Agency Investigations for various companies in the Communications, Technology, Product, E-Commerce and E-Learning industries before the Federal Communications Commission, FCC Inspector General, Federal Trade Commission, the Florida Attorney General, and various state Attorney Generals during investigations for violations of Regulatory Compliance, and Unfair Trade Practices, False Advertising, and Taxation of Communications Services.
Florida Department of Revenue (DOR) v VoIP and Telecommunication Resellers on Florida Communication Service Tax (CST) and Florida Sales Tax (FST). Served as Regulatory Counsel (in conjunction with Florida Tax Counsel and Florida Certified Public Accountants) for pre-audit and post-audit administrative representation and appeals of assessments of the CST and FST against Telecommunication carriers and VoIP Carriers operating in Florida related to prepaid and post-paid traffic sold and negotiated settlement with the DOR at 2% of audit assessment and miscategorized transactions.
Legal Support for the Reporting of Hacking Events and Civil Claims for theft of Communications Services. Served as Legal Counsel for various companies during post hacking events of communication services, proprietary information, and data breaches for various communication providers, both wholesale level and retail level, in the assessment of damage, information compromised, offender tracing via subpoenas, and coordination of reporting to federal law enforcement.
