Sean Stokes represents clients nationally on a wide range of communications matters including broadband, cable television, wireless communications, right-of-way management, pole attachments, barriers to community broadband initiatives, and public-private partnerships. He counsels clients in developing and negotiating agreements involving access to poles, ducts, conduits, dark fiber, and towers. He has represented municipal utilities and local governments in complex negotiations developing city-wide fiber-to-the-home networks and wireless small cell siting agreements.
Sean has advised clients in numerous cases involving complex factual, legal, and policy issues, multiple parties, and large amounts in controversy. His clients include national and state utility associations, municipal leagues, and numerous public and private entities throughout the U.S. He collaborates with multi-disciplinary teams of legal, financial, engineering, and other technical experts, assisting clients in making comprehensive telecommunications and broadband plans.
Sean has authored numerous industry publications and is the principal author of an extensive guidebook and a model pole attachment agreement for the American Public Power Association, which assists approximately 2,000 public power utilities. He is frequently invited to speak at industry conferences and has recently presented on topics such as community broadband, small cell, and pole attachments.
Sean’s extensive career experience includes counseling clients at a boutique Washington, DC telecommunications law firm, as well as Associate General Counsel for the Utilities Telecommunications Council (UTC), where he helped develop and implement the legislative and regulatory strategy of the nation’s electric, gas and water utilities regarding the adoption and implementation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
More Legal and Business Bylines From Sean Stokes
- Telecom Alert: Wireless Emergency Alerts Rulemaking; 2.5 GHz Auction Licenses Removed; 911 Job Reclassification; RDOF Support Authorized [Vol. XIX, Issue 16] - (Posted On Monday, April 18, 2022)
- Telecom Alert: 2.5 GHz Auction Procedures; New Application Fee Rates; ECF Funding; Upcoming 800 MHz Action; Broadband Communities Summit [Vol. XIX, Issue 13] - (Posted On Tuesday, March 29, 2022)
- Telecom Alert: 2.5 GHz Auction; Petition for VoIP Common Carrier Designation; Broadband Data Collection Specs; IIJA Broadband Webinars; 16K NAL [Vol. XIX, Issue 10] - (Posted On Monday, March 07, 2022)
- Telecom Alert: Letter Urges USF Reform; MTE Competition R&O; $100K USF Penalty Proposed; Spectrum Coordination Initiative [Vol. XIX, Issue 8] - (Posted On Tuesday, February 22, 2022)
- Telecom Alert: Supply Chain Reporting Portal; Tribal Library E-Rate Eligibility; Rosenworcel to Lead Cybersecurity Forum; NTIA Broadband Grant Webinars; RDOF Funding [Vol. XIX, Issue 6] - (Posted On Tuesday, February 08, 2022)
- Telecom Alert: Ninth Circuit Upholds CA Net Neutrality Mandate; Auction Communications Investigation; FCC Broadband Nutrition Labels; Section 253 Petition; Order to Dismantle [Vol. XIX, Issue 5] - (Posted On Monday, January 31, 2022)
- Don’t Lose Sight of USDA’s Current USDA ReConnect Funding Opportunity - (Posted On Tuesday, December 07, 2021)
- Telecom Alert: 4.9 GHz Free Partially Lifted; NASNA Petition for Rulemaking; House Passes Secure Equipment Act of 2021; $1.15 Billion in ReConnect Funding; RDOF Funding [Vol. XVIII, Issue 43] - (Posted On Monday, October 25, 2021)
- Telecom Alert: Emergency Connectivity Fund First Round Funding; 2.5 GHz Mutual Exclusivity Resolution; MTE NPRM Comment Deadlines; Senators Back Rosenworcel as Permanent Chairwoman [Vol. XVIII, Issue 39] - (Posted On Monday, September 27, 2021)
- Telecom Alert: House Budget Proposes $10B for NG911; Broadband Access to MTEs; EBB Program Eligibility Expanded; Tribal Library E-Rate Eligibility; USF Contribution Factor [Vol. XVIII, Issue 37] - (Posted On Monday, September 13, 2021)
The National Law Review selected the Telecommunications Practice Group at Keller and Heckman as a Go-To Thought Leader for 2021 for its coverage of legislation and regulation involving the telecommunications industry. Of particular note is its frequent updates on telecommunications policy and regulations through its Telecom Alert, which breaks down the latest news affecting the industry. Keller and Heckman authors who contribute regularly to the Telecom Alerts include Jaimy “Sindy” Alarcon, James Baller, Jason P. Chun, Timothy A. Doughty, Michael T. N. Fitch, C. Douglas Jarrett, Gregory E. Kunkle, Casey Lide, Thomas B. Magee, Tracy P. Marshall, Kathleen Slattery Thompson, Sean A. Stokes and Wesley K. Wright.