Volume II

Issue : 6: March 18, 2004

• Protest Site Withstands Scrutiny under Anticybersquatting Legislation
• EC Data Protection Directive Working Party Critical of Canadian Airline Passenger Information Program
• U.S. Federal Communications Commission Releases VoIP Rulemaking Initiative
• Online Pharmacy Takes Federal Government to Court
• Spam Lawsuits Filed by U.S. Internet Providers Include Canadian Defendants
• RIAA Ordered to Sue "John Doe" Defendants Individually; Recording Companies Seek Copyright Fees from Chinese Karaoke Bars
• B.C. Introduces New Consumer Protection Bills
• Utah Passes First State Net Filtering Bill
• Information Broker Pays Settlement to Mother of Slain Girl
• The European Union Passes New Antipiracy Law

Home > Volume II > Issue 6: March 18, 2004 > U.S. Federal Communications Commission Releases VoIP Rulemaking Initiative

U.S. Federal Communications Commission Releases VoIP Rulemaking Initiative

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has released a document outlining its new rulemaking initiative in the field of voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking examines the issues relating to services and applications making use of Internet Protocol, specifically seeking comment on the categorization of IP enabled services and the appropriate legal and regulatory framework for the these categories. This initiative is a significant step in attempting to resolve the many controversial issues surrounding the delivery of VoIP, such as the protection of universal telephone service, the delivery of 911 services, the provision of wire-tap access to law enforcement authorities, and access for the disabled. These issues need to be resolved as it is predicted that VoIP will replace the public-switched telephone network in 20 years.

For a copy of the document, visit:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-28A1.pdf
For more information, visit:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/ericjsinrod/2004-03-10-sinrod_x.htm