Brett has 25 years of experience providing strategic regulatory and business counsel to a range of public and private organizations in the energy and utility sectors. He advises clients on opportunities to leverage existing utility infrastructure, expand into emerging markets and advance project development and implementation plans that comply with a breadth of federal and state agency and utility commission requirements. Brett’s experience also extends to providing key insights on federal grants and other funding opportunities available to utilities.

 

Prior to joining Stevens & Lee, Brett was Senior Vice President of Policy and General Counsel at the Utilities Technology Council, a global trade association dedicated to promoting the telecommunications and information technology interests of electric, gas and water utilities, as well as other critical infrastructure industries. He developed and led several key initiatives, including advocating for laws and regulations to support utilities offering wholesale and retail telecommunications; working closely with rural electric cooperatives and other utilities to promote broadband access in unserved and underserved areas, including obtaining federal and state funding for last mile and middle mile broadband infrastructure; developing rules and standards to promote broadband over powerline technology in the United States and around the world; obtaining federal and state funding for broadband deployment and grid modernization (i.e., smart grid) by utilities; pursuing additional radiofrequency spectrum for utility wireless communications systems; and advising utilities on matters involving federal and state pole attachment regulatory requirements.

 

In the area of public policy, Brett has successfully advocated with Congress, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the USDA’s Rural Utilities Service, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the U.S. Treasury Department and numerous state-level regulatory agencies and organizations across the country.

 

Brett is a recognized authority on the legal and regulatory issues and communications and IT developments affecting the energy and utility sectors. He has appealed agency decisions to various federal circuit courts and the United States Supreme Court, and he has spoken at numerous events, including interviews with various news media and industry publications. He has also worked closely with various industry trade and professional organizations on certain matters of common interest.