STATE REGULATORY

Fifty states, fifty regulatory systems. The telecommunications attorneys at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP (DWT) can help you work successfully with them all. With extensive experience in the full range of telecommunications issues and offices strategically located around the country, we are optimally positioned to provide state regulatory assistance on a nationwide basis.

Diverse industry expertise

The telecommunications industry grows more complex with each new bit of technology, and DWT attorneys are more than ready for the new challenges. We understand the business needs of our clients and the workings of the agencies that regulate the industry. And we know how to bring them together for our clients’ benefit.

Types of regulatory work

We represent clients in every type of state regulatory proceeding on a wide range of issues, including:

• Entry and exit, certification and tariffs
  
  
• Interconnection: negotiating hundreds of agreements and arbitrating more than 50 on behalf of CLECs and other carriers
  
  
• Consumer protection and service quality complaints and rulemakings
  
  
• Compliance
  
  
• Regulatory fees and surcharges
  
  
• Enforcement, audits and complaint proceedings
  
  
• Universal service proceedings, including obtaining ETC status
  
  
• Numbering compliance and acquisition
  
  
• Regulatory status issues (information v. telecommunications service)
  
  
• VoIP issues
  
  
• Cost dockets
  
  
• Right-of-way access and pole top proceedings

Multi-state experience  

DWT attorneys have practiced before most of the state public utility commissions. We are frequently engaged to represent clients in state matters on a nationwide or regional basis. In some cases we represent clients directly in proceedings in multiple states. On other occasions, the firm has been asked to develop a nationwide strategy and to oversee its implementation using a combination of our resources and other local counsel. We also monitor state regulatory proceedings and develop an efficient way for our clients to track the proceeding and manage information flow (e.g., by the establishment of an extranet site). The types of multi-state matters we handle include:

• Serving as state regulatory counsel for CompTel
  
  
• Representing a wireless company in interconnection negotiations with rural independent telephone companies and related regulatory proceedings in more than 20 states
  
  
• Representing a major telecommunications carrier in obtaining state regulatory approvals in all 50 states for a merger and spin-off of local telephone service providers
  
  
• Negotiating with all of the Regional Bell Operating Companies and their successors, other large incumbent local exchange carriers, and numerous mid-sized to small local exchange carriers, including rural ILECs
  
  
• Completing a 44-state survey of state regulation of wireless carriers

Whether you need assistance in managing a 50-state project or an answer to a single regulatory question, we will be pleased to help you.