VoIP in America: A Tale of Two States

VOIP IN AMERICA: A TALE OF TWO STATES
[SOURCE: Jeff Pulver Blog]
Last week two states -- New Jersey and Missouri -- took radically different approaches to VoIP regulation that could have far reaching consequences for the future of Internet communication. New Jersey adopted a new law prohibiting state regulation of many aspects of VoIP. Meanwhile, the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) took a starkly different approach. After a year-long proceeding, the PSC found that Comcast’s fixed VoIP service, unlike Vonage’s service, is offering a telecommunications service in Missouri and therefore it is requiring Comcast to get certified by December 10th, or stop offering their VoIP service. Even though in the FCC’s landmark “Vonage decision” the Commission found that Vonage and Vonage like services should not be subject to state jurisdiction, the Missouri PSC has found otherwise. Unfortunately, while the Missouri Senate proposed legislation similar to New Jersey’s to prevent the Missouri PSC from regulating VoIP, the Senate adjourned before completing work on the bill.
http://pulverblog.pulver.com/archives/007628.html