State and Local Communications Representation

Our Communications Practice Group has more than 25 years of experience representing regulated communications providers before state public utility commissions (“State PUCs”) in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. We routinely represent regulated communications companies before the State PUCs in diverse matters including:

Our Communications Practice Group has more than 25 years of experience representing regulated communications providers before state public utility commissions (“State PUCs”) in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. We routinely represent regulated communications companies before the State PUCs in diverse matters including:

• Obtaining Consents and Approvals
  Our attorneys have extensive experience obtaining state consents and approvals for virtually all types of regulated transactions before the State PUCs. Such transactions include mergers, asset and customer base acquisitions, securities issuances, credit facilities, service discontinuances, transfers of control, re-branding, and corporate restructurings.
  
• Licensing, Tariffing, Regulatory Compliance and Reporting
  We have represented competitive new entrant telecommunications carriers in market entry and licensing in every state and the District of Columbia. Our Communications attorneys have worked closely with numerous carriers to obtain the authorizations and complete the filings necessary for new entrant providers in virtually every type of state regulated service.
  
• Interconnection Negotiations and Arbitration
  We have enforced the interconnection, negotiation, and arbitration provisions of the 1996 Telecom Act on behalf of competitive telephone service providers throughout the country. Our attorneys are also in the forefront on emerging interconnection issues, such as the requirement of Internet backbone providers to permit non-discriminatory interconnection of packet-switched networks.
  
• Rulemakings and Policy Advocacy
  State commissions also conduct rulemaking proceedings on issues vital to the development of competitive telecommunications markets. Group members have advocated pro-competitive and market-opening policies on behalf of clients before numerous state regulatory agencies, particularly in the fields of interconnection and compensation obligations of the dominant telephone service providers. Recent representation has included participation on behalf of clients in a NARUC Task Force to completely overhaul the nation’s system of cash payments among carriers when two or more carriers collaborate to complete a telephone call.
  
• Negotiation of Right-of-Way use and Franchise Agreements
  We represent telephone and cable providers in negotiations with local municipalities and state agencies concerning rights-of-way use agreements, franchise agreements, easements, and permits. We also represent providers in resolving disputes with public and private entities involving use of rights-of-way and infrastructure.