Bradley Arant Boult Cummings specializes in providing legal assistance to regulated utilities and their customers, including telecommunications carriers (wireline and wireless), natural gas, ISPs, water, wastewater, VoIP providers and cable companies. Our experience encompasses the following areas.
Regulatory & Legislative
- State public utility commission advocacy
- Federal Communications Commission advocacy
- State and federal legislative advocacy
- State public utility commission litigation
- State attorneys general inquiries and proceedings
- Monitor legislative and regulatory developments affecting the telecommunications and utility industries
- Negotiation of inter-carrier agreements under § 251 and 252 of the Federal Telecommunications Act
- State certification applications
Compliance
- Assistance with resolution of consumer complaints with state public utility commissions, the Federal Communications Commission and other federal agencies
- Tariff development and filings; liaison with state public utility commission regarding tariff filings
- Regulatory compliance reporting
- Assistance with CALEA and 911/E-911 compliance
- Assistance with evaluation and compliance with telecommunications-related subpoenas and other Homeland Security/law enforcement requests
- Customer notice requirements
- Assistance with state public utility commission data request responses and filing
- Review and filing of Customer Service Agreements
Contracts/Strategic Advice
- Assistance with all aspects of the joint venture provision of service
- Franchise agreements
- Easements and rights of way
- Negotiation of next generation network vendor-carrier agreements
- Site/co-locations/rooftop leases, retail leases, switch leases and 3rd party leases
- Review of Master Lease Agreements and preparation of corresponding site lease acknowledgements
- Negotiation of inter-carrier commercial agreements
- Negotiation of wholesale network access agreements
- Assist carriers with the implementation of business plans to ensure that proper consideration is given to the prevailing legal and regulatory climate; assist carriers with adapting their business plans based on those considerations
Wireless
- Assist wireless telecommunications companies in market launches including the acquisition of cellular sites, wireless network infrastructure, site leases and associated network equipment
- Provide extensive representation in land use and zoning matters before county and municipal planning commissions and boards of zoning appeals throughout the Southeast
- Regional counsel for wireless telecommunications carriers and telecommunications tower owners
- Advise wireless carriers on compliance issues regarding subpoenas and law enforcement information requests
Litigation
- Represent wireline and wireless carriers in state and federal court litigation and appellate proceedings
- Represent wireless carriers and cable carriers in litigation over municipal franchise fees
- Represent cable companies in litigation over rights of way and easements
- Represent wireless carriers in state and federal courts in tower siting disputes
- Represent wireline and wireless carriers in general litigation arising in the Southeast