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Personnel Section:
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ATTORNEYS James Horwood, Spiegel & McDiarmid James Horwood has over 35 years of practice specializing in matters covering a wide range of energy and communications law. He has been in private practice (with Spiegel & McDiarmid) for over 25 years, with concentration in representing municipal and cooperative electric distribution systems, associations of such systems, municipal joint action agencies, and generation and transmission cooperatives in energy matters and advising cities on cable television issues. Mr. Horwood advises local governments on all aspects of telecommunications law. This includes work for cities considering municipal ownership and operation of cable systems, construction and ownership of infrastructure, including fiber optic systems, and issues that arise under cable television franchises, including those in connection with renewal, transfer, enforcement and rate regulation. Joe Van Eaton, Miller & Van Eaton Joe Van Eaton specializes in representing municipalities and nonprofit groups on a broad range of communications and antitrust-related matters. He has worked with communities on cable franchise renewals, advised communities as to the effect of the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984 on local authority to regulate rates and to enforce franchise provisions, and aided communities in conducting cable operator performance evaluations. His work has involved representation of communities in cases involving First Amendment and antitrust challenges to local franchising authorities. He filed one of the first post-Cable Act petitions which resulted in a community re-regulating basic cable service rates and has provided advice to a number of communities investigating the feasibility of municipal ownership of cable television systems. Matthew Ames, Miller & Van Eaton Matthew Ames specializes in cable television issues and new communications technologies affecting local governments, and in the drafting and negotiating of franchise agreements and cable television ordinances. Mr. Ames has represented a variety of public and private sector clients in FCC rulemakings, including such matters as cable rate regulation, leased access, telecommunications inside wiring, and universal service, among others. He was very active in the development of the universal service discount program for schools and libraries (or “e-rate”). He prepared comments on behalf of a national coalition of national educational groups that proved instrumental in the approach taken by the FCC in its final rules. Mr. Ames continues to advise the coalition on matters related to the implementation of the rules. He also has a broad background in corporate, commercial, and contract law, and has participated in the drafting and negotiation of cable television system purchase agreements, software licenses, television production contracts, and a wide variety of other transactions. William Lowery, Miller & Van Eaton William Lowery specializes in the counseling and representation of local governments in cable television and telecommunications issues. Since joining Miller & Van Eaton in 1997, he has assisted local governments in cable television franchise renewals and transfers; competitive cable television and open video system entry; drafting and adopting telecommunications ordinances; and litigation arising from the provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 preserving the rights of local governments in rights-of-way management/compensation and tower zoning issues. Mr. Lowery also has an extensive background in broadcast television, having worked as a production manager and a producer/director in local stations in various markets, prior to law school. Mr. Lowery is currently heading the operation of the firm’s San Francisco office.
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The Buske Group |
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