Regulatory issues of VoIP
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has worked to create an environment promoting competition and innovation to benefit consumers. Historically, the FCC has not regulated the Internet or the services provided over it. On February 12, 2004, the FCC found that an entirely Internet-based VoIP service was an unregulated information service.
Currently, the FCC is not regulating VoIP, however there are still major concerns that need to be addressed. There are three main issues that are of the utmost importance to the telecommunications industry. The Tax Freedom act, E-911, and Calea are three most imperative issues concerning VoIP.
The Internet Tax Freedom Act was authored by Rep. Christopher Cox and Sen. Ron Wyden, and signed into law on October 21, 1998 by President Bill Clinton. This law bars state and local governments from taxing Internet access service. In 2003 the House of Representatives approved bill H.R. 49, the “Internet Tax Non-Discrimination Act of 2003.” This bill would expand and make permanent a federally imposed “moratorium” on state and local taxation of sales of “Internet access” services. States and local governments would be permanently prohibited from charging sales taxes on the monthly service charge that households and businesses pay to be able to access the World Wide Web.
VoIP rides a fine line between being a telephone service and an internet service. This is due to the fact that a call is initiated from a phone in an analog format, transmitted over the internet in a digital format and finally converted back to analog format typically across the same lines that traditional phones operate on. In addition many states rely on the taxes received from telephone service to run programs to low income areas. VoIP is seen as threat to these programs because taxes will not be imposed on this service due to current legislative language. Many opponents of the non-taxation of VoIP feel that exemption from taxation is not needed to spur investments in this type of telecommunication. They also feel it singles out one type of telecommunications service for favorable treatment, which will lead to other types of services asking for similar treatment at the expense of the state and local tax base.
E-911 short for Enhanced 911, is a location technology that will enable phones to process 911 emergency calls and enable emergency services to locate the geographic position of the caller. When a person makes a 911 call using a traditional phone with ground wires, the call is routed to the nearest public safety answering point (PSAP) that then distributes the emergency call to the proper services.
Of particular importance is the deregulation of the telecommunications industry as mentioned in the act (“Implementation of the Telecommunications Act,” NTLA). This reflects a new thinking that service providers should not be limited by artificial and now antique regulatory categories but should be permitted to compete with each other in a robust marketplace that contains many diverse participants. Moreover the Act is evidence of governmental commitment to make sure that all citizens have access to advanced communication services at affordable prices through its “universal service” provisions even as competitive markets for the telecommunications industry expand. Prior to passage of this new Act, U.S. federal and state laws and a judicially established consent decree allowed some competition for certain services, most notably among long distance carriers. Universal service for basic telephony was a national objective, but one developed and shaped through federal and state regulations and case law (“Telecommunications Act of 1996,” Technology Law). The goal of universal service was referred to only in general terms in the Communications Act of 1934, the nation's basic telecommunications statute. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 among other things: (i) opens up competition by local telephone companies, long distance providers, and cable companies ...
Perhaps no other company has benefited more from this deregulation than the company which is the focus of this essay – Clear Channel Communications, Inc (CC). The Telecommunications Act and the actions of the FCC paved the way for the rise of this radio industry behemoth. In 1995, the company owned 43 radio stations nationwide. By 2002, it owned 1,239, making it the largest radio company in th...
“Because this technology uses bandwidth more efficiently than a traditional network and has not been subject to traditional telephone industry regulation.” (AT&T INC, 10-K, 2014: 3)
"Get me the police". Prior to the rotary dial many people all over the country had to wait for operator assistance when placing a phone call. Creating an emergency number was a sufficient way of connecting to an emergency personnel’s. Before the emergency number was established the caller dependency for an emergency contact was the operator. The caller would have to wait for assistance and then tell the operator the number of whom they wish to be connected to. In case of emergency the caller could simply reply with the emergency service name and get help. In 1967, the President's Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice suggested that a "particular number be established" generally for exposure of emergency situations. As a result of the colossal attention in this concern the President's Commission on Civil Disorders turned to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a clarification. In November of 1967 FCC met with the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) to find a way of establishing a universal emergency number that may possibly be implemented promptly. Later congress passed a law identifying 9-1-1 to be the standard emergency contact number for the United States of America. By the end of the 20th century nearly 93% of the U.S was covered with some type of 9-1-1 service. So, whenever there are an emergency occurring citizen’ young and old have access to the universal emergency number. This is a telephone number to be used for immediate access to help and assistance when an accident or serious problem occurs. Children can be taught to dial 9-1-1 when life and/or property are in immediate danger. In addition to, being in danger it defeats the purpose of having an emergency number.
The emergence of the Internet and the World Wide Web brought upon a medium of communication with a range of opportunities for the world. However, this medium is, in due course, subject to the control of a few major companies. The enigma of information flow is the central concern of net neutrality. Consumers, competition and network owners would benefit directly from the regulation of network neutrality because it would provide a positive impact to those parties as well as provide equality.
The relationship between censorship, free speech and copyright in this bill is worth discussing. In SOPA, copyrights are enforced by censorship, but censorship at the same time violates free speech. Although SOPA’s online censorship of unauthorized online material is an effective method to protect internet copyrights, it resists innovation and compromises freedom of speech. SOPA aroused public attention from a wide range of protests, though it originally aimed to help online businesses damaged by piracy. On January 18, 2012, websites like Google, Reddit, and Wikipedia were all blackout and drew great public attention.
Broadcasting involves specific rules and regulations that must be followed. The paramount justification for regulating broadcast is the scarcity rationale. The radio spectrum is extremely large, and cannot assist the needs of everyone who wants to broadcast. The spectrum as a whole relies on the government to manage and operate it. It is up to them to decide what broadcasters will best serve the public. A scarcity rationale case, NBC v. United States arose when regulations and restrictions were put on radio stations that were to protect “public interest.” Radio Networks proceeded to test the guidelines and licensing laws, resulting in the FCC gaining strong power over regulations of the radio spectrum. Although the Communications Act provides equal opportunities to all candidates with equivalent broadcast time, it still did not confine the FCC from having overall control.
“Next Generation 911 (NG911) will enhance the 911 system to create a faster, more flexible, resilient, and scalable system that allows 911 to keep up with communication technology used by the public” (911.gov, n.d.). As previously quoted, 70 percent of the nation’s population is using mobile devices that are not compatible with current 911 standards. The NG911 policy is a compilation of ideas, research, framework information on NG911 systems, committees and organization established to assist PSAPs, as well as, suggested protocols for implementation and continued usage of a Next Generation 911 system.
The research paper, titled Video Relay Interpreting demonstrates my ability to discuss the scope of authority of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) the federal agency responsible for implementing and enforcing communications law and regulations in the United States (5.9).
Recently, the FCC met on March 23 and voted to approve a proposed rule on how to target and eliminate false robocalls. The FCC reviewed a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Notice of Inquiry that would protect the voice service providers subscribers from illegal robocalls.
This is the main reason why the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) independent agency of the United States government was created in 1934. The function of the commission is to regulate interstate and foreign radio, television, wire, and cable communications. To provide for orderly development and operation of broadcasting services, to provide for rapid, efficient nationwide and worldwide telegraph and telephone service.
In the early 1970s, the FCC continued it's restrictive policies by enacting regulations that limited the ability of cable operators to offer movies, sporting events, and syndicated programming. The freeze on cable's development lasted until 1972, when a policy of gradual cable deregulation led to, among other things, modified restrictions on the importation of distant signals.
Since it was costly to have the wires run to a household, many residential people often shared lines, which is called a party line. Although these lines were cheaper for the customers, it was a nuisance because only one person could use the phone at a time, and other households could listen in on the calls. Finally, the price of local calls was relatively low, however, long-distance calls were placed relatively high when compared to the local telephone bill. Today, approximately 95% of the households across North America have telephones, which is creating a huge opportunity for companies that provide local and long-distance service. Although prices for calls are slowly decreasing, the competition between companies is increasing. This can be seen in advertisements on television and in the newspaper.
Internet regulation is basically restricting or controlling access to certain aspects or information. Internet regulation consists of mainly two categories: Censorship of data, and controlling aspects of the Internet.
Internet Voice, also known as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), is a technology that allows you to make regular telephone calls using a dial up or broadband internet connection instead of a regular phone line. Some services using VoIP may only allow you to call other people using the same service, bu...