California Governor Signs Bill Limiting IP Regulations

Gov. Jerry Brown (D-CA) has signed a bill that limits the regulatory authority of the state's Public Utilities Commission over Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and IP-enabled services (voice, data, or video) there until 2020.

In a letter to members of the California Senate, he said that consumer safeguards remained in place, that the bill would spur the growth of "innovative services that have become a hallmark of our state." Gov Brown pointed out that VoIP providers will continue to contribute to the Universal Service Fund, provide e911 access, were still subject to consumer protection laws as well as PUC oversight of pole attachments. But the bill does prevent PUC's from regulating IP video, voice and data services on their own initiative, limiting them to actions expressly delegated by Federal law or directed by statute.