On Mon, Mar 17, 2008 at 5:06 PM, Trixter aka Bret McDanel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > On Mon, 2008-03-17 at 16:45 -0400, Adam Moffett wrote: > > Hi. We've been offering VoIP service with our internet service and as I > > understand that's ok because the FCC classified VoIP as an internet > > service and so you didn't have to go through any regulatory procedure. > > Correct me if I'm wrong on that please. > > > > Yes no, they basically did a power grab and while its not 100% yet they > are trying to get it so that only they can regulate it. > > They have since passed a few policies which applies to all > "interconnected voip providers" which is defined somewhere in the CFR > (if you do bi-directional telephone via voip to end users you probably > qualify) > > 1. You must provide 911 service > 2. You must have support for CALEA (wiretap) stuff > 3. You must contribute to USF (I think that your contribution has to > exceed $10k annually or you are exempt, but not 100%) > > #3 requires a 499 form, which will of course get you a 499 number. I am > also not 100% but I think you can just do the 499A (annual) and not > bother with the 499Q (quarterly). > > So there are still some regulatory things that you have to do, but its > all mandated by the FCC, which is what they want. > > > > > But where does the line get drawn? > > > > Generally it gets drawn if you are a customer or a peer. States have > their own BPU/PUC which regulates traditional telephone companies. If > you want to be a CLEC then you would have to go through the BPU/PUC (and > the feds a bit, you have to do 499 filings, and a few other things). If > you want to switch across LATAs then you would apply for IXC status > generally. > > > > > I can lease T1's pretty cheaply, so if I lease a T1 to someone's > > premises, plug their end into their PBX, and plug my end into my > > asterisk box, am I now breaking the law? > > > Technically no, the circuit would be a fixed non-switched line. I dont > think the states care that much since you are effectively a customer of > all the other phone companies. > > This of course depends on the specific state in question, since they would > be regulating that. I am sure somewhere there is a state that would have > issues with that, if for no other reason than they could tax you differently. > > > > -- > Trixter http://www.0xdecafbad.com Bret McDanel > Belfast +44 28 9099 6461 US +1 516 687 5200 > http://www.trxtel.com the phone company that pays you! >
Probably all the states shortly (maybe CA first) since all the coffers are drying up and the one thing they really like to do is spend. Getting OT, but I also expect internet sales tax to be across the board too in a year or so. What a mess that will be. Thanks, Steve Totaro _______________________________________________ --Bandwidth and Colocation Provided by http://www.api-digital.com-- asterisk-biz mailing list To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-biz
