Telecommunications

Overview

The communications marketplace has undergone a historic transformation from providers of telecommunications services offering traditional landline and intrastate interexchange services to an industry dominated by service providers offering wireless communications and technology services to millions nationwide. Traditional cable television companies find themselves not only facing an uncertain regulatory environment but also having to meet the challenge posed by telecommunications providers as each moves toward a more sophisticated, intelligent, and integrated market for services. 

Our Services and Our Team

Robinson+Cole’s Environmental, Energy + Telecommunications Group assists the nation’s largest wireless service provider and other wireless infrastructure companies in permitting and siting of wireless telecommunication facilities, negotiating real estate and other land use agreements with private property owners and municipalities for use of property and public rights of way and addressing governmental or community considerations related to the siting of wireless infrastructure.

    • Experience

      • Successfully defended Verizon Wireless in the closely watched Town of Westport tower siting appeal.

      • Represent Verizon Wireless in regulatory matters in Connecticut before the Connecticut Siting Council and Public Utilities Regulatory Authority as well as local land use boards and commissions.

      • Provide Verizon wireless with legislative and lobbying support related to all issues affecting the wireless industry in Connecticut.

      • Represent Verizon Wireless in regulatory matters in Massachusetts before state and local siting authorities and on legislative issues affecting the wireless industry before the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy as well as local land use boards and commissions.

      • Draft zoning regulations and bylaws for the development and use of wireless telecommunications facilities.

      • Serve as legal counsel to competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) in certification proceedings before the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority.

      • Successfully defended Verizon Wireless in numerous appeals of state and local siting approvals through the Connecticut Superior and Appellate Courts and the Connecticut Supreme Court.

      • Successfully appealed local zoning decisions denying Verizon Wireless facility development proposals in western Massachusetts.

    • News
      • October 18, 2018

        51 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

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          51 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

          A total of 51 Robinson+Cole attorneys were named Super Lawyers® in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island for 2018. In addition, 32 attorneys at the firm were recognized as “Rising Stars.” The Super Lawyers designation is based on regional balloting by attorneys, third-party research, and a peer review process encompassing myriad practice areas. An explanation of the Super Lawyers methodology can be found here. View the list of recognized attorneys and their areas of practice.

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      • May 15, 2015

        Environmental and Utility Lawyers Participate in ABA Cell Tower Webinar

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          Environmental and Utility Lawyers Participate in ABA Cell Tower Webinar

          Kenneth C. Baldwin and Alexander W. Judd, environmental and utility lawyers in the Hartford office, participated in the webinar "T-Mobile South v. City of Roswell and Other Recent Developments in Cell Tower Siting," sponsored by the State and Local Government Law Section of the ABA, on May 7, 2015. Mr. Baldwin moderated the program and Mr. Judd served as a panelist, along with City of Roswell officials. Panelists focused on the recent U.S. Supreme Court's decision in T-Mobile South v. City of Roswell, specifically addressing the following: recent developments in cell tower siting, including a 2014 Report and Order issued by the FCC; the legal landscape of siting cell towers and the circuit court split leading up to T-Mobile South v. City of Roswell; and other considerations local governments must use when evaluating cell tower applications.

      • October 18, 2013

        Stamford Lawyer Appointed to Connecticut House Task Force

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          Stamford Lawyer Appointed to Connecticut House Task Force

          Environmental and utilities lawyer Pamela K. Elkow was recently appointed to the Task Force to Examine Procedural Problems in Addressing Blight at the Municipal Level by the State of Connecticut's House of Representatives. Created by Public Act 13-123, the task force is charged with finding ways to combat blight and to administer fines on blighted properties. Ms. Elkow's term is effective immediately and will end on the date the final report is submitted or on February 5, 2014, whichever is later.
      • September 16, 2013

        Peter Lacouture Edits ABA's Public Utility, Communications, and Transportation Law Annual Report for Ninth Year

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          Peter Lacouture Edits ABA's Public Utility, Communications, and Transportation Law Annual Report for Ninth Year

          The American Bar Association's Section of Public Utility, Communications, and Transportation Law has published its annual report, Recent Developments in Public Utility, Communications and Transportation Industries – 2013, edited by environmental and utilities lawyer Peter V. Lacouture. Mr. Lacouture is chair of the section's Publications Committee and has edited the report since 2005. The report outlines judicial decisions, administrative rulings, and legislative actions in public utility, communications, and transportation industries through March 31, 2013, and a few major developments since that date. Environment and utilities lawyer George W. Watson III and Dana Weiner, the 2013 National Grid-Robinson & Cole Summer Fellow, assisted Mr. Lacouture in editing the report.

      • August 20, 2013

        Robinson & Cole Lawyer Featured Volunteer in The First Tee of Connecticut

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          Robinson & Cole Lawyer Featured Volunteer in The First Tee of Connecticut

          Energy and utilities lawyer Kenneth C. Baldwin was the Featured Volunteer in The First Tee of Connecticut newsletter, Summer 2013 edition. The First Tee of Connecticut dedicates itself to "Impact, Influence & Inspire young people across the state through its Life Skills Curriculum and the game of golf." The First Tee reaches thousands of young people in Connecticut each year by offering practical, hands-on programs such as the National School Program, Golf Teams, and Summer Camps. The organization's Life Skills Program stresses Nine Core Values—Honesty, Integrity, Sportsmanship, Respect, Courtesy, Judgment, Confidence, Responsibility, and Perseverance—and Nine Healthy Habits—Energy, Play, Safety, Vision, Mind, Family, Friends, School, and Community.

          Mr. Baldwin has been instrumental in shaping the progress of the TPC's new practice facility, the four-hole Karl Krapek Family Learning Links, and, more recently, the Geri Epstein Learning Center building. The Featured Volunteer article states that "[s]ince our inception, Robinson and Cole has provided unwavering support of our efforts, and Ken Baldwin's personal commitment to the game, its values and the future of The First Tee of Connecticut has helped us move ever closer to fulfilling the dream."

      • October 22, 2012

        Super Lawyers® Names 49 Robinson & Cole Attorneys to 2012 List and Recognizes 26 as Rising Stars

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          Super Lawyers® Names 49 Robinson & Cole Attorneys to 2012 List and Recognizes 26 as Rising Stars

          A total of 49 Robinson & Cole attorneys were named Super Lawyers® in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island for 2012. The Super Lawyers® designation is based on regional balloting by attorneys, third-party research, and a peer review process encompassing myriad practice areas.

          In addition, 26 attorneys at the firm were recognized as "Rising Stars." Read an explanation of the Super Lawyers methodology here.

          Recognized attorneys and their areas of practice can be read in the full press release.

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      • September 17, 2012

        Peter Lacouture Serves as Editor-in-Chief of American Bar Association's Public Utility, Communications, and Transportation Law Annual Report for Seventh Year

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          Peter Lacouture Serves as Editor-in-Chief of American Bar Association's Public Utility, Communications, and Transportation Law Annual Report for Seventh Year

          The American Bar Association’s Section of Public Utility, Communications, and Transportation Law has published its annual report, "Recent Developments in Public Utility, Communications and Transportation Industries – 2012," edited by environmental and utilities partner Peter V. Lacouture. He is chair of the section’s Publications Committee and has edited the report since 2005. The report outlines judicial decisions, administrative rulings, and legislative actions in public utility, communications, and transportation industries through March 31, 2012, and a few major developments following that date. Associate George W. Watson III and Adam Riser, the National Grid Robinson & Cole summer fellow in 2011, assisted Mr. Lacouture in editing the report.
      • July 23, 2012

        Robinson & Cole Attorney Joey Lee Miranda Joins Lawyers for Children America’s Board of Directors

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          Robinson & Cole Attorney Joey Lee Miranda Joins Lawyers for Children America’s Board of Directors

          Lawyers for Children America elected energy and utilities partner Joey Lee Miranda to its board of directors on June 6, 2012. Lawyers for Children America, based in Connecticut, is a nonprofit child advocacy organization providing pro bono legal representation to protect the rights of children who are victims of abuse, abandonment, and neglect.
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      • February 17, 2011

        Environmental Partner Elected Vice President of Connecticut Power & Energy Society Board

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          Environmental Partner Elected Vice President of Connecticut Power & Energy Society Board

          Joey Lee Miranda, a partner in the firm’s Environmental and Utilities Practice Group, was elected vice president of the Connecticut Power & Energy Society (CPES) for a two-year term on February 9, 2011. CPES is Connecticut’s leading association of energy professionals with a diverse membership, including traditional electric and natural gas utilities, competitive providers, and end users, and is dedicated to generating information, sharing ideas, and educating the State of Connecticut on energy. Ms. Miranda has served on the CPES board of directors since 2009.

      • November 4, 2010

        Environmental and Utilities Attorney Joins Committee of National Association

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          Environmental and Utilities Attorney Joins Committee of National Association

          The National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) has asked David W. Bogan, environmental and utilities law partner, to join the Regulatory Law and Rates Committee. The committee advises NAWC’s board of directors regarding the need for regulatory research on specific issues and promotes sound regulatory principles and procedures.
      • October 29, 2010

        Environmental and Utilities Attorney Examines Wind Power at National Conference

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          Environmental and Utilities Attorney Examines Wind Power at National Conference

          Joey Lee Miranda, partner in the firm’s Environmental and Utilities Practice Group, spoke as part of the “Siting Wind Power Facilities: Cape Wind & Beyond” panel presented at the American Bar Association State and Local Government Section fall meeting on Oct. 1, 2010, in Providence, Rhode Island. The session addressed the interplay of federal, state, and local permitting activities with respect to major wind energy facilities.
    • Publications + Presentations
    • "Energy Siting on Indian Lands," presented by Alexander W. Judd, Moderator, at the ABA's Section of State and Local Government Law Fall Meeting in Phoenix (11/18/2016)

      "T-Mobile South v. City of Roswell and Other Recent Developments in Cell Tower Siting," presented by Alexander W. Judd, webinar, served as a panelist (5/7/2015)

      "Recent Developments in Telecommunications Law," presented by Alexander W. Judd, at the Land Use Hot Topics Lunch at the ABA's Section of State and Local Government Law Spring Meeting in Philadelphia (4/24/2015)
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        • Recent Developments in Telecommunications Law

        "Recent Developments in Telecommunications Law," presented by Alexander W. Judd, at the Land Use Hot Topics Lunch at the ABA's Section of State and Local Government Law Spring Meeting in Philadelphia (4/24/2015)

        Mr. Judd addressed recent developments in telecommunications law, including the 2015 US Supreme Court decision T-Mobile South v. City of Roswell and the Federal Communications Commission's 2014 Report and Order relating to acceleration of broadband deployment by improving wireless facilities siting policies.


      "Mass Tort Claims Administration and Handling: Lessons from Deepwater Horizon," published in Environmental Litigation, co-authored by Alexander W. Judd and Peter R. Knight, a publication of the ABA (Winter 2015)
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        • Mass Tort Claims Administration and Handling: Lessons from Deepwater Horizon

        "Mass Tort Claims Administration and Handling: Lessons from Deepwater Horizon," published in Environmental Litigation, co-authored by Alexander W. Judd and Peter R. Knight, a publication of the ABA (Winter 2015)

        In the context of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Mr. Knight and Mr. Judd discuss how a fast and fair claims process in mass-casualty and toxic-tort litigation can avoid costly and drawn-out tort litigation. After the Deepwater Horizon spill, both British Petroleum (BP) and the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee quickly established a claims process, resulting in BP making thousands of payments that totaled billions of dollars. Even though BP voluntarily launched the claims process, the company now disputes its implementation. Although the Deepwater Horizon claims process is an extreme case, it provides important lessons for parties managing claims after any mass casualty. To find out more, please click here to view the entire article.

         


      "EPA Proposal Raises Concerns About Electricity Supply," published in Connecticut Law Tribune, co-authored by Brian C. Freeman and Alexander W. Judd (November 2014)

      "What Once Was Old Is New Again: Recent Developments in Judicial Review of Land Use Regulation of Cellular Telecommunications Facilities," published in The Urban Lawyer, authored by Alexander W. Judd (Fall 2014)

      "Creating the 'Green' Line: A Survey of the Transit-Oriented Development Planning Process," published in Zoning and Planning Law Report, authored by Alexander W. Judd (June 2012)

      "Recent Developments in Public Utility, Communications and Transportation Industries, Renewable Energy," published in American Bar Association, authored by Alexander W. Judd (2012)

      "Personal Wireless Service Facilities — A Sample Ordinance," authored by Kenneth C. Baldwin (2009)
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        • Personal Wireless Service Facilities — A Sample Ordinance

        "Personal Wireless Service Facilities — A Sample Ordinance," authored by Kenneth C. Baldwin (2009)

        Trends in land use law from A to Z.


      "Energy in Connecticut: Demand, Cost and the Environmental Challenges of Siting New Infrastructure," at Connecticut Environmental Forum, panelist, presented by Kenneth C. Baldwin (Spring 2006)

      "Understanding the Legal and Regulatory Dimensions: The laws and regulations that affect ownership, liability, remediation, and land use," at Connecticut Environmental Forum, panelist, presented by Kenneth C. Baldwin (Spring 2006)

      "The Telecommunications Act of 1996 — Developing Caselaw of Towering Proportions," published in Urban Lawyer, authored by Kenneth C. Baldwin
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        • The Telecommunications Act of 1996 — Developing Caselaw of Towering Proportions

        "The Telecommunications Act of 1996 — Developing Caselaw of Towering Proportions," published in Urban Lawyer, authored by Kenneth C. Baldwin
        Summary of caselaw under the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

      "Telecommunications Competition – The Evolution Revolution," at Connecticut Bar Association seminar

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