Ray Horak is an independent consultant with a general practice in wireline and wireless telecommunications and related fields such as the Internet and Voice over IP. His 35+ years’ experience includes management and executive positions with Southwestern Bell, CONTEL, and Executone prior to forming The Context Corporation.
He has authored the best-selling Communications Systems and Networks, (John Wiley and Sons, 1997, 2000, and 2002) and the critically-acclaimed Telecommunications and Data Communications Handbook (Wiley-Interscience, 2007) and Webster’s New World Telecom Dictionary (Webster’s New World, 2007). He was Senior Contributing Editor for Newton’s Telecom Dictionary (12th through 21st Editions). He has written hundreds of technical white papers, case studies, articles, and columns for major print and electronic publications such as CommWeb, Computer Telephony, Network World, The Prepaid Press, and Teleconnect. He also has served as Technical Editor for several book-length works, including Deploying Secure 802.11 Wireless Networks with Microsoft Windows (Microsoft Press, 2003). He currently serves as the Technology Editor for Telecom Reseller newspaper.
Ray Horak regularly teaches public and private seminars and has spoken before tens of thousands of telecom and IT professionals in the US and abroad as a conference keynoter, seminar and tutorial leader, panel chair and panelist at hundreds of major industry conferences such as ComNet and Networld+Interop.
He also has provided litigation support as a consulting expert and testifying expert in a number of cases involving contract disputes, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), product/service misrepresentation and intellectual property (patent; copyright, and trademark/service mark infringement). Those cases have involved a broad range of technologies, including cellular, DSL, E911, fax, PBX, prepaid cellular, push-to-talk (PTT), videoconferencing, VoIP, and voice processing.
Ray Horak is known for his ability—both in print and in person—to translate highly complex technical subject matter into plain-English, commonsense, and thoroughly understandable terms for technical and lay audiences, alike.
Background
Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:A: Associate in Arts, Del Mar College (1966)
Bachelor of Business Administration, University of Texas at Austin (1968)
Master of Business Administration, University of Texas at Austin (1970)
Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
A: IEEE Computer Society (ComSoc)
Electronics Technicians Association (ETA)
Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
A: Terrapinn (Faculty, 1995-): Telecommunications and Data Communications MasterClass
University of San Francisco (Adjunct Faculty,1995-1996) McLaren Graduate School of Business
International Data Group (IDG)(Faculty, 1995-1996), Essentials of Telecommunications
Network World Technical Seminars (Faculty, 1995-), Essentials of Telecommunications
BCR Enterprises, Inc. (Faculty, 1988-1993), Essentials of Telecommunications
Institute for International Research (IIR) (1993-1995), Essentials of Telecommunications
San Francisco State University (1992-1995), Essentials of Telecommunications and Essentials of Network Management
Served as keynoter, lecturer, seminar leader, workshop leader, panel chair and panelist at hundreds of conferences and have spoken before tens of thousands of telecom professionals.
Q: Have any of your accreditations ever been investigated, suspended or removed? (if yes, explain)
A: No
Q: On how many occasions have you been retained as an expert?
A: Approximately 20.
Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
A: Contract Disputes, Cellular Telephony, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), Electronic Surveillance, Facsimile (Fax) Technology, Internet Protocol (IP), Patent Infringement, PBX technology, Product Misrepresentation, Push-to-Talk (PTT), Service Mark Infringement, Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), Trademark Infringement, Videoconferencing, Voice Mail, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
A: Approximately fifty percent (50%)
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
A: Approximately fifty percent (50%)
Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
A: Three (3)
Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
A: September 2008
Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
A: Three (3), to my knowledge
Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
A: Zero (0)
Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
A: Approximately Ten (10)
Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
A: Consulting, Patent Analysis, Prior Art Research, Reports, Testimony
Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
A: Fee schedule to be negotiated
Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
A: Fee schedule to be negotiated
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
A: Fee schedule to be negotiated
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
A: Fee schedule to be negotiated
Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
A: All travel and administrative are additional and billed on a pass-through basis.
References
Litigation Support Experience, Representative Engagements:re: Harris Corporation et al. v. Siemens AG et al.
Client: Fish & Richardson P.C.
Nature of Case: Patent Infringement re interface between voice mail system and PBX
Nature of Engagement: Consulting Expert
re: Viseon, Inc. v. Tandberg, Inc., Tandberg asa, and NV Holdings
Client: Kinney & Lange, representing Tandberg
Nature of Case: Patent Infringement re peripheral video conferencing system
Nature of Engagement: Consulting Expert
re: David Solomon, et al. v. Bell Atlantic Corporation, now known as Verizon Communications Inc., and Bell Atlantic Internet Solutions, Inc., now known as Verizon Internet Solutions, Inc. New York Supreme Court, New York County
Client: Abbey Gardy, LLP, representing Solomon, Scott, Croak, et al.
Nature of Case: Seeking Class Action status against Bell Atlantic d/b/a Verizon with respect to misrepresentations associated with DSL service
Nature of Engagement: Consulting Expert, Testifying Expert
re: Cellco Partnership d/b/a/ Verizon Wireless v. Nextel Communications, Inc. Civil Action No.: 03-725-KAJ (D. Del.)
Client: Winston & Strawn LLP, representing Verizon Wireless
Nature of Case: Trademark/Service Mark Infringement
Nature of Engagement: Consulting Expert, Testifying Expert
re: Robert A. Green, individually and as the representative of a class of similarly-situated persons, v. Insurance Program Managers Group, L.L.C. Case No. 07-CV-3842
Client: O’Halloran Kosoff Geitner & Cook LLC, representing Insurance Program Managers Group, L.L.C.
Nature of Case: Robert A. Green, et al seeking Class Action status against IPMG for alleged junk fax violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
Nature of Engagement: Consulting Expert, Testifying Expert
