Volume II

Issue : 8: April 15, 2004

• U.S. Broadband Industry May be Forced to Share Following Cable Modem Decision
• UN E-commerce Group Releases Revised Draft Convention on the Use of Data Messages in International Contracts
• Supreme Court of Canada to Hear Criminal Spam Case
• U.S. Senate Bill Introduced to Grant Federal Government Exclusive Regulatory Authority Over VoIP
• U.S. Advocacy Groups Lobby FCC to Protect VoIP from Regulations
• CRTC Releases Preliminary View on VoIP Services
• PGA Tour Wins Battle over the Internet Posting of Real-Time Golf Scores
• British Columbia and Alberta Exempt from PIPEDA
• Canadian Privacy Commissioner's E-kit for Businesses
• Eight European Nations Fail to Implement the E-Privacy Directive
• Google Mail Alleged to Violate European Privacy Laws
• Florida Court Orders RIAA to Bring Individual Suits against Alleged File Swappers
• Federal Government Called Upon to Ban Internet Pharmacies
• Internet Pharmacy Sues Health Canada

Home > Volume II > Issue 8: April 15, 2004 > CRTC Releases Preliminary View on VoIP Services

CRTC Releases Preliminary View on VoIP Services

On April 7, 2004, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) issued a public notice, "Telecom Public Notice CRTS 2004-2 - Regulatory framework for voice communication services using Internet Protocol," setting out its preliminary view on VoIP services. The CRTC's preliminary view is that voice communications services using Internet protocol that provide universal access to and/or from the Public Switched Telephone Network and utilize telephone numbers that conform to the North American Numbering Plan have characteristics that are functionally the same as circuit-switched voice telecommunications services. The CRTC, keeping in line with its principle of technological neutrality, stated that its existing regulatory framework should apply to VoIP services, including its determinations related to forbearance. In the public notice, the CRTC also invited interested parties to comment on its preliminary view and to participate in a public discussion.

For a copy of the public notice, visit:
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Notices/2004/pt2004-2.htm
For a copy of the CRTC press release, visit:
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/NEWS/RELEASES/2004/r040407.htm
For further information, visit:
http://news.com.com/2100-7352_3-5186851.html