Denise Smith is an associate in the firm's Washington, D.C. office. Her practice focuses on representing telecommunications companies before federal and state regulatory agencies and courts. In particular, Ms. Smith represents and counsels clients on numerous aspects of the Federal Universal Service Fund program, including enforcement actions, regulatory filing obligations, eligible telecommunications carrier ("ETC") designation applications and other relevant issues.
Ms. Smith provides advice to telecommunications companies, including competitive local exchange carriers, interexchange carriers, Internet service providers, conference calling service providers and providers of interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol services on regulatory and strategic issues. Such advice includes, but is not limited to, issues related to state certifications, service discontinuances, and state and federal agency reporting requirements.
Ms. Smith represents clients in various state and federal agency proceedings, including certification, enforcement, audit and complaint proceedings. She has drafted complaints, answers to complaints and responses to audit and enforcement inquiries from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Universal Service Administrative Company. Ms. Smith also has assisted clients seeking designation as ETCs, for purposes of receiving Universal Service support, including preparation of ETC applications and compliance plans and representation in related FCC meetings. Ms. Smith also counsels clients in federal customer proprietary network information ("CPNI") protection and usage regulations.
Ms. Smith has represented clients in negotiations of interconnection agreements and related documents with other telecommunications carriers. Ms. Smith also has drafted petitions for review of FCC orders and related procedural court filings.
Memberships & Associations
Federal Communications Bar Association
Pro Bono
Assisted Hurricane Katrina victim in efforts to contest recoupment of disaster assistance funds received from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Successfully obtained from FEMA a complete waiver for client of any obligations to repay any disaster assistance funds.
