APWA.net Event Detail

Date(s):

May 12, 2005

Location:

Audio/Web Broadcast

Description:

Do You Know the Value of Your Underground?

Changes to the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and lawsuits filed by utility companies have successfully eliminated the franchise fees that utility companies were charged for use of a city�s right-of-way (ROW.) Courts are now requiring defendants to present cost-based assessments of ROW value�not estimates or averages. Your city stands to lose millions of dollars each year if you aren�t prepared to prove the value of your underground.

In this session you�ll learn:

� Guidelines for determining the value of the ROW that will be defensible in court
� How to better manage who uses your ROW
� That different parts of towns have different ROW costs
� How to recover costs when underground damage occurs

Speaker:

Robert E. Pender, ASA

Mr. Pender has over 27 years of experience in providing services to the utility industry and local governments as both a consultant and in a management role for an investor-owned utility. From 1986 through 2004, Mr. Pender was a Principal and Senior Director in the firm of R. W. Beck, Inc., a well-known international consulting and engineering firm. Prior to joining R. W. Beck, Mr. Pender was employed by Public Service Company of Indiana (now Cinergy) where he last held the position of Wholesale Cost of Service Supervisor. He formed R. E. Pender, Inc., a multi-disciplined consulting firm, in January 2005.

Mr. Pender received a B. S. Degree in Accounting and Business Administration from Indiana State University in 1977. His affiliations include the American Society of Appraisers, the Government Finance Officers Association, the American Water Works Association and the International Association of Assessing Officers.

Speaker:

Garth T. Ashpaugh, CPA

Mr. Ashpaugh has been engaged in utility matters and regulation full-time for over twenty years. His previous experience includes consulting since 1991 and working as Audit Supervisor with the Missouri Public Service Commission for over 12 years. He has a BS, Business Administration, from the University of Missouri, holds licenses as a Certified Public Accountant in the states of Missouri and Florida and maintains professional affiliations with the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Florida Government Finance Officers Association and National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors.

Ashpaugh & Sculco (�A&S�) provide consulting services primarily to local government entities. Specifically, A&S�s services include franchise fee reviews, cable television rate filing reviews, franchise agreement analyses including renewals and financial analyses of new applicants, rate and cost of service studies, and litigation services and expert testimony. A&S does not work for cable, telephone or telecommunications corporate clients. A&S was formed by Garth Ashpaugh and Carolyn Sculco December 1, 1999. A&S has provided consulting services to local government entities located within Florida and throughout the United States. Mr. Ashpaugh has worked for over 200 cities and counties since 1992.

Speaker:

Gerry Lederer, Esquire

Gerard Lavery Lederer, Esq., CAE is of counsel to the Law Firm of Miller & Van Eaton. Miller & Van Eaton is a leading telecommunications law firm that promotes the rights of public and private property owners before communications regulators, legislators and in contract negotiations.

Lederer possesses an extensive background in telecommunications research, advocacy and management. He has served as Executive Director of the Advocacy and Research Advancement Departments of BOMA International; General Counsel of the United States Conference of Mayors and Government Relations Executive Director of the United States Telephone Association. He has also served as Philadelphia�s Chief Deputy City Commissioner and Washington lobbyist.

A graduate of Haverford College and Temple University School of Law, Gerry is married to Sara Denise Trujillo, Esq. (his college sweetheart) and is the proud father of Sara Isabella, Gabriel Lavery and Josie Mariella.

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