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April 19, 2007
And the Fees for VoIP Providers Just Keep Mounting
First came fees to ensure that VoIP providers can connect to and be backward-compatible with non-IP-enabled local emergency response centers.
Then came fees to support the Universal Service Fund, a fund to which VoIP providers are not eligible.
Then comes the possible fees that VoIP providers might have to pay Verizon to license the patent for IP-PSTN translations and use of VoIP in WiFi hotspots.
... and now, the FCC has released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking tentatively concluding that Interconnected VoIP providers should pay regulatory fees to the FCC in order to fund the FCC's enforcement and rulemaking activities. Nice to see that the FCC thinks the VoIP industry should be footing the bill for all the rules it has begun imposing on the VoIP providers.
Specifically, the FCC tentatively concludes that:
"providers of interconnected VoIP service should pay
regulatory fees. During FY 2006, the Commission concluded that providers
of interconnected VoIP services should contribute to the Universal
Service Fund. Based on section 9's broad mandate that the Commission
'assess and collect regulatory fees to recover the costs' of regulatory
activities and our analysis in the 2006 Interim Contribution Methodology
Order, we tentatively conclude that the Commission has the legal
authority to extend regulatory fee obligations to interconnected VoIP
service providers. We seek comment on whether we should assess
regulatory fees on providers of interconnected VoIP services based on
their revenue, which would be consistent with the regulatory fee
methodology used for interstate telecommunications service providers, or
whether we should assess regulatory fees using a numbers-based approach,
which would be consistent with the methodology used for CMRS providers."
And still no conclusion as to whether VoIP providers are "telecom service providers". None of the rights ... all the responsibilities.
Tags: FCC, VoIP, AT&T, intercarrier compensation, Access Charges, USF, Jeff Pulver
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Posted by jeff on April 19, 2007 06:53 PM | Permalink
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Comments
It seems as though the FCC is getting all of its new rules and regulations for VoIP providers written and handed to them from the so-called "baby bells".
Posted by: VoIP Reviews at June 13, 2007 01:46 AM
I fully agree the FCC should promptly resolve the question of VOIPs regulatory status. However, the point that VOIP providers are not eligible for USF support, ( I am not aware of any applying for Eligibile Telecommunications Carrier status) has long been held to be irrelvant. Wireless carriers tried that approach early on and lost. VOIP providers do benefit, however, whenever a call originates or terminates over facilities of a carrier that does receive VOIP support.
Posted by: Dave at April 24, 2007 01:41 PM
Higher costs.
Posted by: Jeff Pulver at April 19, 2007 07:52 PM
What does this mean to me, the average consumer of VoIP?
Posted by: Jeff at April 19, 2007 07:34 PM