LOCAL TELECOMMUNICATION
INFRASTRUCTURE OPTIONS

Faculty

Mark Calhoun, Program Co-Chair, is founder of Calhoun & Stacy. He represents major telecommunications carriers and cable telecommunications companies in litigation, franchising, and property-related matters. He also serves as an arbitrator and mediator.

Clarence A. West, Program Co-Chair, is of counsel to Dow Cogburn & Friedman. A former city attorney for the City of Houston, his telecommunications practice includes representation of franchising authorities concerning franchise compliance issues and negotiation of cable telecommunications and fiber optic franchise agreements.

The Hon. Bret Pearlman, Luncheon Address, is Commissioner of the Public Utility Commission of Texas. Previously a management consultant of McKinsey & Company, he participated in the development of a strategic plan for the state’s Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund Board.

Monte Akers, Director of Legal Services for the Texas Municipal League, specializes in environmental and utility issues. Previously, he was senior attorney with the law firms of Hutcheson & Grundy and Hooper & Haag in Austin.

Matthew C. Ames, a partner at Miller & Van Eaton in Washington, DC, specializes in cable television issues and new communications technologies affecting local governments and building owners/managers.

Douglas G. Bonner is a member of the Washington, DC law firm of Arent Fox Kintner Plotkin & Kahn. He has represented telecommunications carriers in matters relating to competitive entry since passage of the 1996 Telecommunications Act. This includes negotiation of local franchise, license, and rights-of-way agreements for CLECs.

Michael J. Crowley is a partner in the Litigation Law Group of Locke Liddell & Sapp in Dallas. His experience includes professional malpractice defense. He is currently the chair for the American Bar Association Center for Professional Responsibility.

Tom W. Davidson heads the communications practice in the Washington, DC office of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld. He represents clients in the domestic and international communications industries, including local exchange and long distance telephone companies, wireless systems, satellite systems, cable television operators, and providers of new technology services.

Janis Everhart is an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Dallas and Chair of the Texas Coalition of Cities for Franchise Utility Issues.

Marilyn J. Fox joined Resource Management International after 13 years of work for municipal government in the area of franchise negotiations and utility regulation. She previously served as the director of the City of Austin’s Department of Telecommunications and Regulatory Affairs.

Brooks Harlow, a partner at Miller Nash Wiener Hager & Carlsen in Seattle, focuses on telecommunications, energy, and other utility matters. His expertise includes the historical impact of changing technology on regulatory policy and its implications for the future.

Alfred R. Herrera is Senior Counsel in Law and Public Policy for MCI Telecommunications Corporation and MCI WorldCom in Austin. Prior to joining MCI, he was an assistant city attorney with the City of Austin and advised the City on ratesetting issues. He also has served as assistant general counsel at the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

Renea Hicks is a partner with the Austin law firm of George & Donaldson. His practice involves both litigation and appellate work in the areas of environmental and land use law. He currently represents the City of Austin in two appeals involving the 1996 Telecommunications Act. Immediately before joining the firm, he served as state solicitor with the Texas Attorney General’s Office.

Anthony V. “Buck” James is Legal Counsel at GTE Network Services responsible for advising GTE operating companies on a variety of issues affecting network operations.

Robert A. Mercer is President of HAI Consulting, Inc. in Boulder. The firm deals with telecommunications technology, economics, policy/regulation, and marketplace strategies, particularly as they relate to the evolving telecommunications infrastructure and the services it supports. He serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Interdisciplinary Telecommunications Program of the University of Colorado and is a former member of the board of directors of the American National Standards Institute.

Thomas Ratliff, former director of external affairs for AT&T Wireless Services, is President of Ratliff Company. He was active in legislative committee hearings leading to state legislation on franchises and rights-of-way in Texas.

Paul N. Smolen focuses his consulting practice at Resource Managements International on telecommunications regulation, cable television franchising, and infrastructure development. Previously, he served as the regulatory affairs officer for the City of Austin and as the director of economic research at the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

James A. Stenger is a partner in the Washington, DC office of Ross & Hardies where he has an extensive communications practice. His expertise includes representation of cable system operators before the FCC.