Joan E. Neal's practice focuses on telecommunications and common carrier issues. Ms. Neal counsels clients in their ongoing businesses and new ventures, represents them in proceedings before the Federal Communications Commission and the courts, acts as their regulatory counsel in transactions and negotiates and drafts a wide variety of contractual arrangements governing their relationships with their customers and with other carriers. These clients represent a broad range of the communications industry, including international carriers, domestic interexchange carriers, CLECs and independent local exchange carriers and commercial mobile radio service providers, and other wireless providers.

In addition, Ms. Neal has represented large telecommunications users (both business end users and wholesale carriers) in negotiating a wide range of service agreements with telecommunications vendors.

• Represents trans-Atlantic cable operator in negotiating all telecommunications contracts, including both purchases from other vendors and sales to customers.
• Advised several foreign-based carriers on U.S. market entry and U.S. regulatory compliance.
• Represented companies in recent enforcement and complaint proceedings raising novel issues of law.
• Assisted large end-user corporation in negotiating various telecommunications agreements for wireline and wireless services.
• Assisted clients in audit review of categorization of services and revenues for USF purposes.
• Represented clients in policy proceedings involving special access, foreign mobile termination rates and regulatory fees.