Telecommunications

Devine Millimet represents the interests of the telecommunications industry in New England and throughout the country. Let us apply our broad experience and understanding of the regulatory and business environments in the rapidly evolving telecommunications landscape to help your business.

Our client list includes some of the largest telecommunications companies in the world, as well as regional and local telephone companies, and developers of telecommunications technologies. Both land line and wireless companies regularly obtain our assistance in sophisticated business transactions, in regulatory matters, and in the deployment of network infrastructures. We represent both incumbent and competitive local exchange carriers (ILECs and CLECs) as well as wireless companies and Internet providers.

The Telecommunications group includes lawyers with extensive experience in various areas of the law as well as government relations professionals.

Our Services

Regulatory Matters

In addition to advising our clients on how to comply with existing regulations, we work with state and federal agencies to develop new regulations or to revise or eliminate existing regulations pertaining to the telecommunications industry. We also advise clients on obtaining state certifications nationwide, as well as issues that include but are not limited to intercarrier compensation, universal service (e.g. Connect America Fund), broadband expansion, rural telephone service, and numbering resources. We represent our clients before the FCC, the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission and various state public utility commissions across the country in all areas of administrative law.

Interconnection, Network Access and other agreements

End-to-end telecommunications services often involve cooperation among a number of telecommunications providers.  We negotiate and interpret many types of agreements among carriers and between carriers and customers. We draft, revise, and interpret tariffs for service terms and rates.

Site Acquisition and Development for the Wireless Industry

We advise our clients on zoning and permitting of antenna facilities and in-ground systems. Our experience also extends to environmental issues, such as wetlands approvals and resolution of potential impacts on historic properties.

Mergers, Acquisitions & Business Formation

We have advised a number of clients, large and small, regarding establishing a telecommunications business, as well as mergers, acquisitions, restructurings, and other transactions subject to state transfer of control statutes and Section 214 of the federal Communications  Act.

Government Affairs

When our clients have concerns that current regulations do not address, we develop proposed legislation and work with state and federal legislators to develop solutions at an industry level. As a recent example, our attorneys and government affairs professionals drafted proposed legislation and successfully lobbied the New Hampshire legislature to enact sweeping deregulation of retail telephone service in the state.

Litigation

Litigation involving telecommunications carriers is often based on esoteric and highly technical aspects of network operations. Our attorneys not only have an excellent grasp of the legal issues, but they also understand telephone company operations at a business level, allowing them to provide highly comprehensive and knowledgeable representation in both state and federal court at the trial and appellate levels.

Intellectual Property

Our telecommunications practice also draws on the expertise of Devine Millimet’s intellectual property lawyers to address issues involving telecommunications technology.

Representative Clients

• FairPoint Communications
• T-Mobile
• U.S. Cellular
• Sprint Nextel
• SBA Towers
• Industrial Communications and Electronics
• TDS Telecom
• New Hampshire Telephone Association, and its member companies