Ray Kowalski is a telecommunications law specialist. His career has spanned some forty years, the first half of which was spent with the Federal Communications Commission. Today he represents business and utility clients, educational institutions and trade associations before the FCC in matters relating to spectrum, licensing, rule making, equipment authorization, and defense of sanctions.
Representative Experience
Represented investor owned electric utilities in defense of pole attachment complaints before the FCC and in the U.S. Court of Appeals.
Drafted and negotiated pole attachment agreements with cable television companies and competitive local exchange carriers.
Represented large electric distribution cooperative from the business plan phase through execution of the bidding strategy in obtaining FCC licenses in the auction of spectrum in the 220 MHz band.
Monitored legislative and regulatory developments and assisted clients to respond in testimony before Congressional committees or comments in agency proceedings.
Negotiated spectrum relocation agreements with wireless PCS providers on behalf of a transcontinental pipeline company, an investor owned utility and several other municipal and industrial licensees of private microwave facilities.
Counsel to several electric utilities regarding the use of rights of way to carry broadband, fiber optic cable.
Counsel to municipalities for review of cable television franchise agreements, local ordinances relating to rights of way and telecommunications franchises.
Counsel to manufacturers of microwave communications equipment, automated meter reading equipment, telephone network equipment and other manufacturers of radio frequency equipment regarding federal equipment authorization, importation and marketing requirements.
Publications
Published in UTC Journal, April, 1999: "FCC Spectrum Auctions: Myth and Reality."
Published in Electrical World magazine, July 1998: "Has Congress Hampered Utilities in the Telecom Market?"
Co-author and co-editor of The New Telecommunications Environment: Opportunities for Electric Cooperatives, published by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association in 1996.
Published in Communications magazine, June 1993: "The 10 Expensive Sins of Private Land Mobile Licensees."
Published in Communications magazine, Sept. 1993: "Big Fish Small Pond or Small Fish Big Pond: SMR Operators May have to Choose."
Work Experience
Of Counsel, Troutman Sanders LLP, 2011-present
Member, Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC, 2010
Of Counsel, Troutman Sanders LLP, 2002-2009
Director, Technology Policy, United States Chamber of Commerce, Washington, D.C., April 2001-May 2002
Partner, Keller and Heckman LLP, 1992-2001
Partner, Blooston, Mordkofsky, Jackson & Dickens, 1988-1992
Federal Communications Commission, Broadcast Bureau and Private Radio Bureaus (now called Mass Media Bureau
and WirelessTelecommunications Bureau), 1968-1988
Memberships
· Virginia State Bar
· Federal Communications Bar Association