What regulatory obligations do interconnected VoIP providers face?
For a robust answer of immaculate detail, contact the FCC or a telecommunications lawyer. Broadly speaking, VoIP’ providers government-mandated obligations fall into four provinces at the time of this writing: • Universal Service Fund (USF) contributions – VoIP providers must make contributions to the Universal Service Fund (USF). This is a fund to which telecommunications service companies are required to contribute that subsidises the deployment of enhanced broadband and telephony services to “underserved” areas, including poor and rural communities. • Enhanced 911 (E911) – VoIP providers must be able to provide end-users with a means of reaching a PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point) by dialing 911 as much as the underlying technology will allow, and must deploy technology to provide PSAPs automatically with address/geographic information (a technology known as ALI – Automatic Location Identification). This is the chief defining attribute of the “E” in E911 – Enhanced 911 services.
