Education
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American University Washington College of Law, J.D., Editor-in-Chief, American University Journal of Law & Policy, 1990
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George Washington University, B.A., 1983
Bar Admissions
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District of Columbia
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New York
Clerkships
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Hon. Gregory W. Carman III, Acting Chief Judge,
U.S. Court of International Trade,
1990
- 1992
Court Admissions
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United States Supreme Court
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U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
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U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit
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U.S. Court of International Trade
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U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York
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Cynthia Schultz draws upon her extensive experience in the public and private sectors – where she has served a diverse group of parties – to assist clients with a variety of regulatory, business, and international issues involving E-rate consulting, telecommunications, technology, international trade, and transactional matters.
Ms. Schultz joined Patton Boggs after serving as Director of Service Provider Support for the Schools and Libraries Division of Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), where she worked to improve the stature of more than 4,000 service providers (telecommunications carriers, ISPs, and internal connections providers). She is known as one of the leading E-rate consultants and lawyers, and is a pre-eminent authority on the E-rate Program that disburses up to $2.25B annually to companies that provide Internet access to the K-12 educational market nationwide.
Specifically, as an E-rate attorney, Ms. Schultz has unparalleled experience and knowledge working with service providers who participate in the universal service fund E-rate program and is well-positioned to cater to their needs, offering the following services:
Comprehensive E-rate business support –conduct internal corporate compliance reviews; develop comprehensive corporate compliance/governance programs; devise E-rate market entry strategies at state, regional, and national levels; conduct corporate service provider training; and respond to and prepare for external audits/site visits by regulators E-rate eligibility determines and cost-allocation support Telecommunications Carrier Designation Requirements – advise clients on eligibility requirements, prepare Federal Communication Commission (FCC) filings, and obtain USAC telecommunications carrier designation USAC, FCC, and Congressional advocacy – address funding delays, handle FCC briefings, write industry policy papers, and assist clients with preparing for Congressional testimony Regulatory interpretation and guidance – assist clients with understanding FCC Orders and USAC E-rate programmatic rules and changes Federal and state criminal and civil investigations and inquiries and regulatory enforcement proceedings – provide strategic advice, business-focused advocacy, and litigation support E-rate appeals assistance – consult and prepare USAC and FCC filings and appeals
Ms. Schultz also advises the E-rate Service Provider Association (ESPA), a national organization of E-Rate Service and manufacturers, on advocacy matters before USAC, the FCC, and Congress.
In addition to her E-rate experience, Ms. Schultz is also well versed on matters related to other Universal Services Programs such as Rural Health Care and Law Income (Lifeline/Lineup). She advises on Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC) designation requirements and filings before the FCC, for both non-tribal owned and tribal owned companies.
Before taking on leadership roles at USAC, Ms. Schultz served in senior management in the National Competition and Regulatory Policy Group at a prominent global business and residential communications company. There, she managed nationwide advocacy on ILEC performance reporting and special access services before state regulatory commissions and was closely involved in contract negotiation and interconnection agreements. She achieved favorable regulatory enforcement policies in state PUC carrier-to-carrier collaboratives and 271 proceedings. In this position, Ms. Schultz advised executive management on business opportunities and litigation risks affecting contract negotiation, dispute resolution, and rate structures.
In addition, Ms. Schultz was Associate Counsel for Law and Public Policy at a leading global telecommunications company, where she was responsible for handling domestic and international commercial disputes, arbitration, and litigation related to all segments of telecommunications services – local and long distance, wireless, frame relay, satellite, international cable consortia, local loop, network services, and government contracts.
From 1992-1998, Ms. Schultz served as a Trial Attorney in the distinguished Attorney General’s Honors Program in the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Civil Division – Commercial Litigation Branch, International Trade Group. At the DOJ, she managed, negotiated and litigated major domestic and international cases at the federal district and appellate levels pertaining to customs fraud, valuation, licensing, and international trade cases.
Ms. Schultz’s overseas endeavors include post-graduate work in the fields of international law and economics at Beijing University (China), Fudan University (China), Philipps Universität (Germany), and the College of Europe (Belgium).
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