FIRM HISTORY
Formed in 1987, River Oaks Communications Corporation (“River Oaks”) has worked on a wide variety of Broadband, Cable Television, Wireless and Telecommunications projects. Our teaming with local governments has a proven track record of providing consulting and project management services which produce effective results. Our clientele has included large metropolitan, midsize and rural communities.
For over three decades, the company has worked on cable television, telecommunications, wireless and other projects in more than 35 states throughout the country. We have extensive experience in drafting and finalizing wireless ordinances on behalf of Cities and Counties throughout the United States which will encourage the roll-out of 5G. We have negotiated Master License Agreements to protect municipal rights-of-way with Verizon Wireless, AT&T Wireless and ExteNet. Our franchise experience in negotiating with Comcast, Liberty, Spectrum (formerly Charter Communications), Frontier Communications, CenturyLink and others has collectively generated millions of dollars in revenues for our Municipal Clients.
Our work has included community outreach, transactional and litigation experience (in the context of expert witness support). We have been brought in to identify Smart City initiatives, meet with key stakeholders, explore public/private partnerships, negotiate and draft Agreements, conduct strategic due diligence and work as a team member on broadband feasibility studies. We assisted Spokane, Washington for over 6 months in re-writing its Wireless Communication Facilities Code to strike a balance between residents concerns with cell towers in residential neighborhoods and the Industry’s need to improve capacity and coverage. This included focus groups and facilitating extensive interaction between Industry and residents.
The principals of River Oaks have had their work published, and they are speakers at local, regional and national conferences. We have worked with numerous Municipal Leagues to mitigate the effects of Small Cell Legislation. This includes Municipal Leagues in New Mexico, Indiana, Nebraska and Michigan.
We authored broadband articles for the New Mexico Municipal League and Wyoming Association of Municipalities. River Oaks was also a contributing author to the Best Practices Siting Guide for Wireless Services of the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors. This Guide was prepared by a group of experts throughout the United States and facilitates discussion between Local Governments and Wireless Services Providers.
River Oaks has extensive experience in meeting and working with City and County Attorneys, wireless infrastructure and service providers, cable and telecommunications companies and government staff personnel. Additionally, because consulting on broadband, wireless, cable, telecommunications and other regulatory matters is an integral part of River Oaks’ business, the principals are very knowledgeable about, and stay current on, legal issues. They are regarded as experts by their peers locally, regionally and nationally.
KEY PERSONNEL
Mr. Thomas Duchen, President of River Oaks, has broadband, cable television, IPTV, wireless and telecommunications experience. Mr. Duchen is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law and holds a B.A. from Tulane University, where he was Phi Beta Kappa. Since the formation of River Oaks in 1987, he has worked on a variety of issues throughout the United States, including projects in states such as Arizona, California, Colorado, Maryland, Nevada, Utah and Washington. Mr. Duchen has significant experience in team management and negotiating agreements and is a speaker at seminars and conferences.
Mr. Robert Duchen, Vice President of River Oaks, has broadband, cable television, IPTV, wireless, telecommunications and mergers and acquisitions experience. Mr. Duchen is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law and holds a B.A. from Tulane University, where he was Phi Beta Kappa. He has worked on projects in states throughout the country, such as Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. Mr. Duchen also has significant experience in team management and negotiating agreements and is a speaker at seminars and conferences.
EXPERIENCE
River Oaks has worked on community needs and interests ascertainments; wireless, cable television telecommunications, broadband and a variety of other projects throughout the United States. The following is a list of some of the communities where River Oaks has worked on various projects or provided guidance to State Municipal Leagues or their member municipalities:
Alabama: Enterprise, Gadsden, Mobile County
Alaska: Alaska Municipal Attorneys Association
Arizona: Fountain Hills, Lake Havasu City, Maricopa County, Phoenix and Scottsdale
California: Bellflower, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Gardena, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lomita, Manhattan Beach, Palmdale, Redondo Beach, Santa Monica, Torrance and West Hollywood
Colorado: Aspen, Aurora, Beaver Creek Metropolitan District, Boulder, Breckenridge, Broomfield, Castle Pines Metropolitan District, Castle Rock, Colorado Springs, Crested Butte/Mt. Crested Butte, Denver, Dillon, Eagle County, El Paso County, Fort Collins, Frisco, Greeley, Greenwood Village, Gunnison, Larimer County, Longmont, Louisville, Loveland, Pitkin County, Silverthorne, Southern Colorado Educational Television Consortium and Summit County
Georgia: Tucker
Idaho: Association of Idaho Cities, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Municipal Attorneys, Lewiston, Post Falls and Moscow
Illinois: Baldwin, Beecher City, Bond County, Chicago, Chicago Suburban Area Communities, Clinton County, Keyesport, Randolph County and Rantoul
Indiana: Association of Indiana Municipalities, Columbus, Gary, Indianapolis and Plainfield
Iowa: Braddyville, Bronson, Coin, College Springs, Hancock, Hornic, Little Sioux, Magnolia, Oto, Ricketts, Rodney, Shambaugh, Smithland, Urbandale, Winterset and Wiota
Kansas: Overland Park
Louisiana: Monroe and Ruston
Maryland: Carroll County, Charles County, Frederick County, Hagerstown, Rockville and Washington County
Michigan: Michigan Municipal League
Minnesota: Augusta, Becker, Clear Lake, Freeborn, Freeport, Geneva Township, Genola, Hartland, Hollandale, Mazeppa, Minneapolis, Minneapolis/St. Paul Suburban Area (22 Communities), Moscow Township, Newry Township, Palmer Township, Pierz Township, St. Paul, St. Stephen and Wanamingo
Missouri: Barnard, Clearmont, Cleveland, Elmo, Fillmore, Jamestown, Morrisville, Nodaway County, Polk County and St. Louis Metropolitan Area
Montana: Helena and Miles City
Nebraska: Beatrice, Grand Island, Holdrege, Kearney, Lancaster County, League of Nebraska Municipalities, Lincoln, Lincoln Electric Systems, Nebraska City, Nebraska Municipal Power Pool, Norfolk, Plattsmouth and South Sioux City
Nevada: Clark County (Las Vegas Area)
New Mexico: Albuquerque, Bernalillo, Farmington, Gallup, Las Cruces and New Mexico Municipal League
New York: Buffalo Metropolitan Area (Tonawanda and Kenmore) and Hyde Park
North Dakota: North Dakota League of Cities, Williams County and Williston
Ohio: Akron, Aurora, Barberton, Canton, Doylestown, Gahanna, Hudson, Hudson Township, Macedonia, Mogadore, Northfield Center Township, Orrville, Reminderville, Sagamore Hills Township, Silver Lake, Springfield Township, Stow, Tallmadge, Twinsburg Township and Youngstown
Oregon: Bend, Clackamas County, Corvallis and Portland Suburban Area (16 Communities)
Pennsylvania: Chambersburg and Philadelphia
Puerto Rico: Puerto Rico Telecommunications Regulatory Bureau
South Carolina: Mauldin
South Dakota: Sioux Falls, South Dakota Municipal League and Spearfish
Tennessee: Chattanooga and Nashville
Texas: Alvin, Amarillo, Anna, Beaumont, Corpus Christi, Lake Jackson, McKinney, Melissa, Pearland, Rockport and Victoria
Utah: Midvale City
Washington: Bainbridge Island, Bellevue, Everett, Federal Way, Kent, Kirkland, Lake Stevens, Marysville, Mill Creek, Monroe, Pierce County, Poulsbo, Pullman, Redmond, Seattle, Skagit County, Snohomish, Spokane, Sultan, Tacoma Metropolitan Area (15 Communities), Thurston, University Place, Vancouver/Clark County, Vancouver School District, Washington Consortium (Burien, Clyde Hill, Hunts Point, Medina, Newcastle and Normandy Park) and Woodinville
Wisconsin: Barneveld, Blue Mounds, Cassville, Cobb, Dickeyville, Dodgeville, Highland, Hollandale, La Valle, Linden, Linden Township, Livingston, Lyndon Station, Milwaukee, Mineral Point, Montfort, North Freedom, Patch Grove, Rock Springs, Wauzeka and Wonewoc
Wyoming: Casper, Cheyenne, Cody, Gillette, Laramie, Pinedale, Riverton, Sheridan, Sublette County and Wyoming Association of Municipalities