Tom Phelan, CTO at Unified Office, a communications technology company offering business communications, IoT solutions, advanced business analytics and AI-driven products, will speak on AI regulatory policy issues as part of a panel discussion during the Fall ’25 vCon event, Dec. 3-4 in Washington, D.C.
The event will cover topics related to the future of the communications industry, including AI policy, telecom policy, managing telecom fraud, the state of vCon IETF updates, and building vCon applications and services.
“Generative AI promises transformative power, but its rapid evolution introduces complex legal challenges, including liability, should it cause harm or the risk of AI non-compliance,” said Ray Pasquale, founder and CEO of Unified Office. “Unified Office proactively mitigates these headaches for its customers and partners. We work around the clock to ensure that our AI solutions are effective, accurate and compliant, guiding our partners and customers safely through these exciting times.”
Phelan will participate in the AI Policy Update (Federal & State) panel, which will cover recent developments in state and federal AI policy and how those policies affect businesses. The session will preview some of the changes expected in 2026 as well as delve into the critical legal ramifications of deploying safe and useful AI services, offering practical guidance for companies navigating this new frontier, officials said.
It will explore how businesses can develop robust privacy policies and comply with the burgeoning array of state-level AI privacy laws. Panelist will also examine if there is a need for curated language models to mitigate bias and legal risk as well as address what the Dotcom boom can teach the industry about the current AI “Hype Cycle.”
The session is also expected to cover how SMBs can leverage advanced AI features to improve customer service, optimize voice communications, save money and increase sales.
Phelan will appear alongside fellow panelists Greg Ewing, member, Dickinson Wright PLLC; Mason Clutter, partner and privacy lead, Frost Brown Todd LLP; and Simonne Brousseau, associate, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP.
Unified Office offers a suite of communications-driven AI services available as an integrated offering, including EngageIQ, Sentiment Analysis and Whisper Coaching. EngageIQ is part of the company’s Total Connect Now (TCN) solution, a managed business communications product set that integrates voice and video communications, messaging, service-level monitoring, business continuity, IoT, and AI-based business services.
The Fall ’25 vCon conference is organized by entrepreneur Jeff Pulver, who has invested in more than 400 startups in his career. He is noted for co-founding companies such as Vonage and early investments in platforms like Twitter and Foursquare. He also impacted regulatory action by successfully petitioning the FCC, leading to the 2004 “Pulver Order,” which ensured VoIP services would not be subject to traditional telephone regulation, officials said.
