Wireline Competition

Wilkinson Barker advises and assists clients on a broad array of matters related to telecommunications policy and common carrier regulation.  The firm has partners with extensive FCC experience in these areas.  Many firm clients are wireline local exchange or interexchange carriers, while others are mobile and fixed wireless providers, IP-based service providers, and vendors of telecommunications network infrastructure facing issues once relevant only to traditional telephone companies.  The firm also represents trade association clients with interests in this area.

As services converge, regulatory and policy issues become increasingly complex.  For example, wireless and IP-based services have begun to compete and interconnect with  wireline telecommunications networks, raising questions as to what form of regulation should apply or whether the FCC should forbear from regulation altogether.  Wilkinson Barker assists clients in addressing how they can position themselves to respond to these changes, from both a regulatory and practical perspective.  The application of policies across multiple platforms means that a broad range of the firm’s clients routinely rely on the firm’s expertise on issues such as intercarrier compensation, E-911, Universal Service, CALEA, numbering, and network management.

In the Universal Service area, Wilkinson Barker has been heavily involved in policy and practical issues related to both contributions to, and distributions from, the support mechanisms.  Firm attorneys counsel clients regarding the application of contribution obligations for various service offerings.  The firm also represents carriers seeking Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC) status, and advises them on related obligations.

In addition, Wilkinson Barker represents carriers and manufacturers with respect to network element unbundling, resale, interconnection, and other issues arising under the Communications Act.  Work in this area includes counseling, interpreting, drafting pleadings, advocacy at the FCC, and appellate litigation in support of our clients’ activities.

Wilkinson Barker also represents telecommunications clients in FCC enforcement proceedings, including complaint proceedings, and provides counsel concerning regulatory compliance matters.  Further, the firm assists wireline carriers in various transactional matters affecting their interests.