VOIP PROVIDERS WEIGH 慍ATCH-22'IN FCC USF REFORM ORDER

摘要

VoIP providers will meet to discuss their options in light of a surprise FCC decision ending their federal preemption protection if they use traffic studies to calculate Universal Service Fund payments, VON Coalition Pres. Staci Pies said. The FCC抯 universal service reform order, released June 27, lets VoIP providers pay into the USF based on 65% of revenue, a figure known as a 搒afe harbor,?or submit traffic studies to show the amount of interstate revenue is lower. But if they use traffic studies the FCC no longer will deem them eligible for federal preemption, subjecting them to state regulation. The order said the FCC in the 2004 Vonage Order opted for federal regulation of VoIP because 搃t was impossible to determine whether calls by Vonage抯 customers stay within or cross state boundaries.?But if a VoIP provider can tally its USF payment based on the actual percent of interstate calls, 搕he central rationale justifying preemption... no longer would be applicable?to that provider. 揑t抯 a Catch-22,?said Pies, a PointOne vp. National Assn. of Regulatory Utility Commissioners Gen. Counsel Brad Ramsay said the 搒tate friendly?language was welcome. The preemption decision wasn抰 mentioned in the news release on the FCC vote June 21.