NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: STEVE TAYLOR AND LARRY HETTICK ON CONVERGENCE 11/03/04 Today's focus: VoIP fees and regulations
Dear [EMAIL PROTECTED], In this issue: * Vonage's fees; FCC Chairman Powell on regulations * Links related to Convergence * Featured reader resource _______________________________________________________________ This newsletter is sponsored by Qwest Let Qwest iQ Networking(TM) transform your network into one smooth-running machine. Qwest works with your existing infrastructure to converge it into one efficient network prepared for the future. From security services and remote access, to robust hosting and diversity solutions, your enterprise will have an applications-aware networking environment enhanced by a support team ready to assist in any way possible. http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=86052 _______________________________________________________________ NW TECHNOLOGY INSIDER: STORAGE ILM With real benefits in terms of saving money and making business run more smoothly, information lifecycle management deserves a closer look. In this in-depth technology review, we profile users who are on the cutting edge of ILM and describe how ILM can be one of the building blocks of the new data center. Click here: http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=86079 _______________________________________________________________ Today's focus: VoIP fees and regulations By Steve Taylor and Larry Hettick Last time, we compared taxes and fees assessed on MCI and Cox Communications phone bills. Today, we'll look at what Vonage adds, and what FCC Chairman Michael Powell has to say about Internet telephony taxes and regulation. Vonage has a $24.95 basic plan that includes unlimited local and North American long distance; the plan also includes standard custom calling features and voice mail. Unlike with MCI and Cox, the Vonage list of added fees is short. Since Vonage is providing an application on the Internet, it has thus far avoided regulatory requirements for most of the taxes and surcharges traditional service providers collect. Therefore, Vonage only adds a 3% federal excise and a $1.50 regulatory recovery fee to its standard service. New Jersey residents are also required to pay a 6% sales tax since Vonage is based in New Jersey. Some states and federal officials would like to add charges and further regulate IP telephony (IPT) service providers. However, Powell is on the side of less tax and less regulation for IPT. In a speech at the Fall VON 2004 trade show, Powell noted "how important it is for government to nurture the Internet as a platform for innovation and entrepreneurial activity." He continued: "It's wrong, just plain wrong, to not recognize the potential of VoIP, or to see it through the lens of the old telephone network regulatory model. VoIP is a data application and as such has all the hallmarks of the Internet itself." He added that "to hold that packets flying across national and indeed international digital networks should be subject to state commission economic regulatory authority is to dumb down the Internet to match the limited vision of government officials. That would be a tragedy. I look forward to working with my... colleagues to ensure that a minimal, well-harmonized regulatory environment is applied to VoIP services." While regulatory questions like lawful wiretaps and E-911 support are still up for discussion and decisions, it looks like IPT has a powerful ally to avoid the substantial taxes and surcharges many states would like to add to your phone bill. Next time, we'll take a look at some interesting trials that bring wireless and wireline network services together. RELATED EDITORIAL LINKS FCC chair advocates hands-off approach to VoIP Network World Fusion, 10/19/04 http://www.nwfusion.com/edge/news/2004/1019fccvon.html _______________________________________________________________ To contact: Steve Taylor and Larry Hettick Steve Taylor is President of Distributed Networking Associates and Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Webtorials.Com. For more detailed information on most of the topics discussed in this newsletter, connect to Webtorials.Com <http://www.webtorials.com/>, the first Web site dedicated exclusively to market studies and technology tutorials in the Broadband Packet areas of Frame Relay, ATM, and IP. He can be reached at <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Larry Hettick an industry veteran with over 20 years of experience in voice and data. He is currently Vice President for Wireline Solutions at Current Analysis, the leading competitive response solutions company. He can be reached at <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> _______________________________________________________________ This newsletter is sponsored by NetScout The deployment of VoIP is well underway and unstoppable, but the implementation and ongoing support is extremely challenging. To successfully support VoIP and other demanding applications, IT organizations need to change their approach to network management. Learn about readiness assessment, design and ongoing management in the Network World Special Report: Recommendations for Implementing and Managing Converged Networks. http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=85913 _______________________________________________________________ ARCHIVE LINKS Archives of the Convergence newsletter: http://www.nwfusion.com/newsletters/converg/index.html _______________________________________________________________ FEATURED READER RESOURCE NW CLEAR CHOICE TESTS The Network World Lab Alliance is a coalition of industry experts, network integration consultants, independent test labs and universities who conduct single-product reviews and head-to-head comparative tests in real enterprise network settings. Find out which products get the "thumbs-up" in categories such as web front-end devices, WLAN security, anti-spam and more at: <http://www.nwfusion.com/reviews/> _______________________________________________________________ May We Send You a Free Print Subscription? You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered at your fingertips each day. Now, extend your knowledge by receiving 51 FREE issues to our print publication. Apply today at http://www.subscribenw.com/nl2 International subscribers click here: http://nww1.com/go/circ_promo.html _______________________________________________________________ SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World e-mail newsletters, go to: <http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/Changes.aspx> To unsubscribe from promotional e-mail go to: <http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/Preferences.aspx> To change your e-mail address, go to: <http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/ChangeMail.aspx> Subscription questions? 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