Cybertelecom Federal Internet Law & Policy An Educational Project

VoIP: IP Enabled Services

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today initiated a major proceeding to examine opportunities that allow consumers greater choices created by voice services provided over the Internet. It is also designed to provide a measure of regulatory stability to the communications marketplace and to further promote the development of these Internet-based services. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Notice) adopted today recognizes not only that Internet services should continue to be subject to minimal regulation, but also that mechanisms to implement important social objectives, such as

• public safety,
• emergency 911,
• law enforcement access,
• consumer protections and
• disability access,

may change as communications migrate to Internet-enabled services. Internet enabled communications services are different from the public switched telephone network (PSTN) services on which the country has relied for its communications services for more than 100 years. The advantages of these communications services include lower cost of communications, more innovative services and features, greater economic productivity and growth, expanded network redundancy and resiliency, and enhanced consumer choice. In connection with this proceeding, the FCC announced today that it will initiate a Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement (CALEA) rulemaking proceeding to address the technical issues associated with law-enforcement access to Internet-enabled services. That proceeding will address the scope of covered services, assign responsibility for compliance, and identify the wiretap capabilities required. 

IP-Enabled Services , WC Docket No. 04-36, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 19 FCC Rcd 4863 (2004)

• Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

  PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED FOR COMMENTS IN IP-ENABLED SERVICES RULEMAKING PROCEEDING. (DA No. 04-888). (Dkt No 04-36). Comments Due: 05/28/2004. Reply Comments Due: 06/28/2004, FCC 4/2/2004 

  IP Enabled Services NPRM, Fed Reg 4/6/2004 

  POC: News Release: Word | Acrobat
  Powell Statement: Word| Acrobat
  Abernathy Statement: Word | Acrobat
  Copps Statement: Word | Acrobat
  Martin Statement: Word | Acrobat
  Adelstein Statement: Word | Acrobat
  VoIP Home Page

• Staff discussion draft of legislation to create a statutory framework for Internet Protocol and Broadband Services Hearing by the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet Wednesday, November 09, 2005 10:00 AM 2123 RHOB, House Commerce 11/8/2005

Comments

• FERUP, Comments of the Federation for Economically Rational Utility Policy to the Federal Communications Commission in the Matter of IP-Enabled Services,  WC Docket No. 04-36, May 28, 2004. PDF
• OPASTCO Reply Comments Regarding IP-Enabled Services  & Comments Regarding IP-Enabled Services (WC Docket No. 04-36).
• Hearing Loss Association of America
• Alliance for Public Technology 
  
• NCTA 
  
• NY Attorney General
  
• National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates 
  
• National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates
• FCC IP Enabled Services NPRM, FCC 3/11/2004
• Feds tell states 'VoIP is ours', CNET 4/6/2004
• VoIP to be protected against regulation, Out Law 4/6/2004
• FCC chief wants 'light regulatory touch' on Voice over Internet Protocol, Mercury 3/23/2004