The Communications Advisory Council was initiated by Communications Advisory Counsel, a legal and consulting firm, that provided legal services to the independent telecommunications community for over 25 years until 2019 when the original principles of the firm, Sylvia Lesse and Stephen Kraskin, retired from the practice of law. 

​

            The firm, which was originally known as Kraskin & Lesse, initially concentrated on representation of Independent Telephone Companies in proceedings before the FCC and state commissions in matters involving access charges, toll settlements, and other rate of return and interconnection issues.  Throughout its years of service, the firm focused on telecommunications policy, regulatory issues and transactions.  The firm assisted in the founding and implementation of the Rural Broadband Alliance, the Rural Cellular Association, and the Rural Independent Competitive Alliance.  The firm's lead partners also participated in the creation and direction of several telecommunications companies, and served on the Boards of Directors of both publicly and privately held companies.

​

​            Communications Advisory Council, under the direction of managing member Stephen Kraskin, continues to provide consulting services, often working on client projects in a team approach with other individual professional service providers and firms.  Communications Advisory Council is the developer and administrator of the Independent Forum, and publishes the Independent Telecom Report, the “Back Page” and other publications which are subscribed to by several hundred telecommunications companies, financial analysts and government and Congressional offices.