WASHINGTON, NOV. 9, 2004 - "I applaud the FCC's decision to declare Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) Services interstate in nature and thus subject to the Commission's authority," said Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), a senior member of the House Telecommunications Subcommittee. "It is imperative that we look at how to change the existing regulatory structure to allow these new technologies to flourish, and for companies to continue to innovate and bring new products and services to the market."
The FCC today adopted a declaratory ruling that VOIP services are interstate by nature and therefore subject to the FCC's jurisdiction. Vonage Holding Company, one of the largest providers of VOIP services, originally submitted the Declaratory Petition.
On October 5, Stearns joined other Members of Congress in urging the FCC to declare that VOIP services are interstate in nature and subject to the Commission's exclusive jurisdiction.
"Today's ruling shows that the FCC agrees with our argument to shield this nascent technology from a complex web of state regulations. Regulatory certainty is needed for innovation and investment, and the FCC took an excellent first step regarding IP-based services," added Stearns.
Earlier this year, Stearns introduced HR 4757, The Advanced Internet Communications Services Act. The legislation would create a new definition of services that would encompass IP-based technologies, such as VOIP. The bill would provide regulatory certainty for the deployment of these services by granting exclusive authority to regulate these services at the Federal Communications Commission. IP-based services, like VOIP, operate by means of an Internet Protocol capability that enable a consumer to send or receive communications through IP addressing regardless of whether the communication is voice, data, video or a combination thereof.
Explained Stearns, "My bill would eliminate the regulatory uncertainty of a myriad of different state regulatory approaches which would impede investment in these new services. The FCC decision effectively follows this provision in my legislation, providing the same results."
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