Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 06 JANUARY 2005

FCC Preempts State Regulation of VOIP Services

The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) recently decided that Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) services, a technology that transmits voice communications and other information as digital packets over the Internet, is not subject to traditional state telephone company regulations.

United StatesStrategy

By K. Patrick Meehan (Tampa)

Originally published 4th Quarter 2004

The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) recently decided that Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) services, a technology that transmits voice communications and other information as digital packets over the Internet, is not subject to traditional state telephone company regulations. This decision makes clear that the FCC has the sole responsibility to decide what regulations should apply to VOIP services. This declaration of federal authority over VOIP services is significant; however, there remains the more difficult task of deciding exactly what, if any, regulatory obligations currently imposed upon traditional circuit-switched voice services providers, should apply to this new and innovative service offering.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

See more popular content from