Based in the San Francisco, California, Bay Area, iCommLaw assists telecommunications end users of with a wide variety of legal services, including contract negotiations for the purchase of services and equipment, resolution of billing disputes, compliance with local and federal regulations on issues such as privacy and e911, and analysis of telecommunications tax and surcharge issues.
Negotiating and Enforcing Service Contracts
Regardless of size, businesses have substantial telecommunications needs. Special expertise is needed to assist end users in carefully planning and negotiating contracts that protect them from unexpected rate increases, overcharges and outages, and ensure their rights are protected if carriers issue inaccurate bills. iCommLaw has assisted with the negotiation of multi-million dollar master service agreements, amendments, and renewals. For existing contracts, iCommLaw can conduct a contract inventory to identify ways to bring down costs and increase efficiency by consolidating multiple contracts into one master service agreement. Should disputes arise, iCommLaw has the legal and technical expertise to negotiate a resolution, arbitrate or file complaints with agencies or court for carrier breaches of the contract.
Special Status End Users
Hospitals, schools, and some non-profit entities may be eligible for discounted service through state or federal public policy funding programs. iCommLaw assists eligible entities with securing the discounts to which they are entitled, as well as with providing consultation services to help them maximize their telecommunications budgets.
Compliance Issues
Like telecommunications carriers, end users must comply with a variety of regulatory requirements from supporting e911 service to protecting the privacy of employees and customers contacting your business using electronic communications systems. For example, if your company uses a private branch exchange (PBX), what are your obligations to support e911 service? The answer depends on the state in which your offices are located. Because a PBX does not necessarily provide the location of the handset being used to originate a call, emergency responders may have difficulty locating a person making a 911 call from a multi-story building. Various states impose different requirements regarding an end user's obligation to pass automatic location information through the PBX.
If a customer calls your customer service department, may you record the call? If you transact business with customers via the Internet, what commercial rules apply, what information may you collect and how must customers' confidential information be handled and stored? iCommLaw assists end users in analyzing their existing and future business operations to identify potential regulations that may apply or liabilities that may be triggered, and helps to develop a compliance plan to avoid legal problems and possibly costly litigation.
Seek Experienced Legal Representation
For end users of telecommunications services, contracts tend to be multi-year, complex agreements that serve as the foundation for your business. Time pressures may tempt you to simply sign the deal a carrier offers, however, such approach is unlikely to yield the results you need. It is critical to be represented by a law firm that has extensive experience handling all of the obstacles that can arise in negotiating these deals. To schedule a consultation to discuss your telecommunications needs, contact iCommLaw.
