Mr. Smolen has over twenty years of experience in regulatory compliance and infrastructure development. He manages cable television needs assessments,  prepares municipal policy reviews and assists with franchise fee audits. He also prepares feasibility studies and business plans for telecommunications networks.  In addition, Paul assists utilities and other entities with the implementation of  plans regarding electric deregulation. From 1993 to 1998, Paul worked for the City of Austin, Texas. He served as  the Regulatory Affairs Officer, where he negotiated licenses and franchises for  cable television and telecommunications providers. In addition, his duties involved  rights-of-way management, telecommunications tower siting, Internet public service delivery and other economic development initiatives. 

Paul holds a Masters in Communications and a Masters in Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin. Paul founded, and was the first  President of the Texas Association of Telecommunications Officers and  Advisors (TATOA) and is a board member of the National Association  of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA).