The backdrop for this year’s seminar is, of course, the D.C. Circuit Court upheaval of the FCC’s Triennial Review Order. At the time of this publication, it is uncertain whether the United States will seek U.S. Supreme Court review of the appellate court’s seismic decision. And unless “USTA II” is stayed, many of the FCC’s interconnection rules will soon be gone. This leaves a question mark for local exchange incumbents and their competitors - wireline, wireless, and “UNE-P” carriers: how to negotiate (or for that matter enforce) interconnection agreements based on a regulatory framework that, eight years after the enactment of the 1996 Telecommunications Act, remains unstable.

The “Negotiating Deals” faculty, all experts in their field, will show you how. “Commercial agreements” have been endorsed by the FCC and now appear to be an alternative to “section 251” interim agreements. The seminar focuses on practice pointers, negotiation techniques, spotting deal points, contract drafting tips, pricing, deal protection and what to do when deals crater. The agenda also includes transactional issues raised by the convergence of Internet and telecommunications technology, as well as intellectual property, outsourcing, Internet access, VoIP, Wi-Fi and antitrust topics. You won’t want to miss it!”

Program Co-Chairs: Colleen O’Grady Diamond, Esq. of SBC Communications, and Walt Sapronov, Esq. of Gerry & Sapronov LLP.

Credits: CA 14.0 MCLE; WA 13.75 CLE; Call about others.

Who Should Attend? Attorneys; telecommunications, cable, and electric utilities industry executives; representatives of local government and large telecommunications users.