2020 May 18-Telecommunications

May 18, 2020 01:00pm -
May 18, 2020 02:30pm
(GMT-5)

Event Description

 

May 18 - Telecommunications

Cell Tower Leasing for Units of Government:  Getting the Benefits, Avoiding the Pitfalls

*90 Minutes*

Once your local government leases property for a cell tower or cell antenna, you will routinely receive offers to buy the cell tower lease for a lump sum payment (often plus a percentage of future revenues), coupled with a long term (or perpetual) easement.  The most common question is whether these are good deals for governments.  This program, taught by John Pestle, Esq. and Dr. Jonathan Kramer, Esq., both highly experienced local government telecommunications attorneys, covers (1) how to determine whether a sale of a cell lease and future leasing rights is in a municipality's best interest, (2) descriptions of the non-binding bid process which will commonly lead to the best price and terms, (3) the significant legal issues, business issues and potential pitfalls involved in selling the lease, and (4) some of the traps hidden in the lengthy "Communications Easement" you will be asked to execute.  This program will help you spot the major issues in the very one-sided documents typically offered by buyers.  Key points to be addressed include (a) making sure the municipality is not hindered in using its property for its primary public use; (b) ensuring that future sums and duties promised by the purchaser in fact are performed; (c) unique insurance and bankruptcy issues; (d) special questions of municipal authority; (e) compliance with bond obligations and IRS tax-exempt bond regulations; (f) municipal finance/procurement statutes; and (g) prohibitions on waste. Extensive handouts in PDF format will be provided to participants, which commonly include local government attorneys, city managers and the real estate property managers working for local governments. A lively and interactive Question and Answer session will follow the presentation.

Speakers: John Pestle & Jonathan Kramer

 

John Pestle is the Chair of the Telecommunications Group at the Varnum law firm and is admitted to practice in Michigan and Arizona. For twenty three years he has represented municipalities and private property owners nationwide on cell tower leases. John is a graduate of Harvard College, Yale Graduate School, and the University of Michigan Law School. Among his many qualifications, John held an FCC license to work on radio, TV and ship radar transmitters and was Chair of the Municipal Lawyers Section of the Michigan Bar. He has received the "Member of the Year" award from the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors, and a "Special Award of Merit" from the Michigan Municipal League for his work representing municipalities on cable and telecommunications matters. For the Varnum web page on cell towers go to https://www.varnumlaw.com/services-industries-cell-towers and for John's cell tower blog go to www.varnumlaw.com/blogs/cell-phone-tower/ and scroll to “Publications”.

Jonathan Kramer is the principal attorney of Telecom Law Firm in Los Angeles. Since 1984 as a consultant, and 2006 as an attorney, he has advised more than 800 government agencies regarding wireless and broadband matters. Telecom Law Firm works for governments and private landlords around the country crafting reasonably fair wireless site leases. The firm has made a mark detecting and collecting rent-in-arrears for overoccupancy at lease sites, which is a frequent occurrence, and has resulted in 6 to 6-figure collections of back rent and interest, and increased rent going forward. Jonathan co-authored and edited the FCC’s publication for local government officials on radio frequency emissions safety, and at the request of the FCC he is presently revising and expanding it. Kramer holds a bunch of FCC licenses and telecom industry engineering certifications. Jonathan is admitted to practice in California and New Mexico and holds a LL.M degree in Information Technology and Telecommunications Law.

 

 

 


Event Type:Distance Learning Event
Category:Distance Learning
Early registration ends on Mar 31, 2020.
Regular registration starts on Apr 01, 2020 and ends on May 17, 2020.
Late registration starts on May 18, 2020.
(GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)

 

Registration Fees
Fee TypeEarlyRegularLate
 2020 DLE-May 18
Member Fee: $49.00$49.00$49.00
Non-Member Fee: $99.00$99.00$99.00
 

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