Telecommunications Law

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Telecommunications regulation changes at light speed and we work to ensure that our industry clients’ interests are protected. We represent our clients before state public utilities commissions and the Federal Communications Commission in all aspects of regulation, including interconnection arbitrations, eligible telecommunications carrier applications, and complaints to enforce interconnection agreements. We negotiate franchises with local governments and provide telecommunications-specific business advice, such as developing and negotiating mission-critical business contracts and negotiating and resolving carrier-to-carrier disputes. We represent a variety of telecommunications companies, including:

• Competitive and incumbent local exchange carriers
• Interexchange carriers
• Wireless and VoIP providers
• Developers and equipment manufacturers

Lisa Rackner, our lead telecommunications attorney, served as head of her previous firm’s Telecommunications Practice Group and chaired its Regulated Industries Department. She has been named one of the Best Lawyers in America in Communications.

Regulatory Advising

McDowell & Rackner provides our clients with comprehensive regulatory advice. We understand the interlocking frameworks of state and federal laws and regulations governing small companies and major industry players. We provide our clients with the most up-to-date advice to help them comply with the relevant laws, and more importantly, to participate in the legislative and regulatory process to shape and develop the policies with which they will need to comply in the future.

Compliance: Our clients are governed by complex legal frameworks at the state, federal and municipal levels. As our clients’ businesses increasingly reach out to regional and national markets, compliance with those frameworks becomes more challenging. Our attorneys have a strong background in regulatory law, and we work closely with our clients to ensure that they comply with all regulatory requirements without sacrificing their business goals. We provide compliance advice with respect to all aspects of business development and maintenance, including:

• Business formation
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Local franchising advice

Public Policy: Helping our clients to shape public policy is the foundation of our practice. At state public utilities commissions and legislatures and at the FCC, our attorneys represent clients in all aspects of public policy development. From state and federal policy dockets and rulemaking proceedings to legislative hearings, we work closely with our clients to understand what regulatory changes will be most to their advantage, and work creatively and proactively to anticipate and influence policy changes.

Representative telecommunications clients:

• AT&T
• ComSpan USA
• NewCross Technologies
• Ledcor Technical Services
• Bend Cable Communications
• Level 3 Communications
• Rio Communications

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