Convergence - regulatory

Cisco admits iPhone license violation
01/22/07
Cisco plans to resolve a single license compliance issue regarding the use of Linux in one of its iPhones, the company wrote in a blog posting, but a researcher contends that Cisco has more work to do.

AT&T’s acquisition concessions benefit consumers
01/08/07
As 2006 closed, so too did the long-anticipated AT&T acquisition of BellSouth. We should note that we have previously supported this ...

FCC streamlines video franchising rules
12/20/06
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted to streamline the franchising process for giant broadband providers looking to offer television services over IP, in competition with cable TV.

'Net neutrality stuck in neutral while triple-play gets going
10/09/06
In a newsletter last May, we predicted that the issue of regulating 'Net Neutrality would likely be given an "up or down vote" by Congress ...

Video over IP the next battleground
09/18/06
At the recent VON show in Boston video over IP could be the next regulatory battleground, according to show founder

Where does your phone tax go?
07/19/06
Today, we'll continue where we left off in the debate about using a 7% VoIP tax to provide income into the Universal Services Fund. According to a BellSouth ...

VoIP tax is a sign of bad government, says reader
07/17/06
Last month, we alerted you to the FCC's rule mandating that VoIP providers, such as Vonage, must pay a 7% Universal Services Fund charge, ...

Innocent users could get tangled up in lawful VoIP wiretapping efforts
07/12/06
Following our recent newsletter on regulations requiring VoIP service providers to supply "lawful intercept" of voice traffic to ...

FCC slaps VoIP providers with universal access tax
06/28/06
In our last newsletter, we discussed the FCC ruling that requires VoIP providers to offer "lawful intercept" (or CALEA compliance) of phone calls ...

Does the wiretapping law stretch to Skype?
06/26/06
Last month, the FCC appeared to settle the ongoing argument about the need for VoIP services to include "lawful intercept" capabilities supporting ...

Get a handle on next-gen networks
04/03/06
Like generals who always seem to fight the last war, federal officials are busy trying to regulate yesterday's networks. Listen to the buzz in Washington and you'll come away feeling the Internet was invented in approximately 1995 and has stayed ...

Former networking execs indicted for securities fraud
03/27/06
Two former executives at networking equipment provider Clarent have been indicted on securities fraud charges, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced.

New legislation would prohibit sale of phone logs
01/18/06
Responding to recent concerns over Web sites that sell telephone call logs, a U.S. senator has introduced legislation that would make the sale of telephone records illegal.

Some VoIP providers missed FCC 911 'deadline'
12/06/05
Despite a Nov. 28 deadline, more than 30 VoIP providers have not met U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requirements to offer an emergency dialing service called enhanced 911.

FCC lets VoIP providers slide on 911 - again
11/29/05
Another deadline has come and gone with the FCC taking no action against VoIP service providers that fail to provide 911 emergency calling to their customers.

FCC backs off E911 requirement for VoIP providers
11/08/05
The FCC has backed off its earlier requirement that Internet telephony providers must cut off existing customers if they do not have enhanced 911 emergency dialing service.

Where's Walt Disney when you need him?
10/24/05
We have a government busy moving pieces around the telecommunications game board. Where are our national plans for an EPCOT 2014, our New Songdo City? I guess they're on the shelf, next to our national alternative energy strategy - in the TBD section.

Internet wiretapping: More questions than answers
10/10/05
You should expect that a large pod of lawyers will spend lots of clients' money (including your tax dollars) arguing the details of FCC's decision and the authority of the commission to decide what it did in the light of the enabling laws. From my ...

VoIP 911 deadline moves again
09/29/05
The Federal Communications Commission has moved back the deadline - again - for when VoIP service providers have prove all their customers know that 911 may not work. It's a good thing, too. Initially, the FCC gave providers 120 days to notify ...

Senator crafts revamp of 1996 telecom law
07/28/05
A U.S. senator this week introduced legislation that some say is a first step in reworking the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

FCC requires VoIP providers to offer E911
05/19/05
VoIP carriers that connect to the U.S. public telephone network will be required this year to provide their customers with enhanced 911 emergency calling service, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission ruled Thursday.

Fight for regulatory changes, Powell tells VoIP providers
03/08/05
Outgoing FCC Chairman Michael Powell urged VoIP equipment vendors and service providers at VON Spring 2005 to keep pressing for the regulatory changes they need to succeed.

Gazing into the crystal ball
01/10/05
When it comes to characterizing the telecom market evolution over the past few years, Jerry Garcia and friends said it best: What a long, strange trip it's been. Hold on to your hats, friends, because it's about to get stranger still.

Minnesota to appeal FCC Vonage ruling
01/06/05
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission plans to appeal a November decision by the FCC prohibiting states from regulating VoIP services, such as those offered by Vonage Holdings.

Taking the regulatory reins
10/27/04
Plus: Lucent records first profitable year since 2000 and Sprint posted a $1.91 billion net loss in Q3.

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