Telecommunications

The telecommunications industry has seen rapid and continually evolving changes over the last several years. Deregulation has been an important focus of the Board of Public Utilities (“BPU” or “Board”), but telecommunications providers remain regulated by the BPU. Our attorneys routinely appear before the BPU on behalf of competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) pertaining to those aspects of operations, such as licensing and corporate transactions (including mergers and acquisitions, sales of assets, changes of control and financing matters) that continue to be regulated.

We have also been involved in various rulemaking proceedings pertaining to deregulatory concerns, the need for new area codes and similar matters. In addition, disputes often arise between carriers, particularly as between CLECs and incumbent local exchange carriers, and we have represented competitors in such litigated proceedings before the Board.

The Board also regulates the cable television industry, and our office has been centrally involved in all aspects of such proceedings. From routine operational issues involving the necessity for various regulatory filings to rulemaking proceedings pertaining to new developments in the industry, our attorneys have represented the interests of major national cable television companies.

Dennis C. Linken, the head of Scarinci Hollenbeck’s Regulatory Law practice, was responsible for a landmark decision in the Superior Court of New Jersey establishing mandatory access rights on behalf of the cable television industry. We have also successfully handled numerous access proceedings before the BPU seeking enforcement of such rights with respect to multi-dwelling unit property owners.

We have also represented cable clients in many rate proceedings before the State agency. In addition to our regulatory involvement before the Board, we have handled numerous contract negotiations between CLECs and various other telecommunications providers. We have also been involved in a number of compliance proceedings before the State agency and have negotiated the satisfactory resolution of such proceedings on behalf of regulated operators.