FCC Says Free World Dialup Is Not A Telecommunications Service

Very big news this morning. Jeff Pulver reports in his weblog (link at right) that in a 3-2 vote the FCC has declared that Free World Dialup, is not a telecommunications service, and therefore exempt from fees, taxes, E911 requirements, reliability requirements, reporting requirements, CALEA requirements, etc. FWD is something new and unique, not just a different technology for doing the same old thing. The victory is not in being exempted from taxes, etc. but rather formal recognition that services like FWD are something new and different and that it doesn't make sense to try to apply rules, regulations, and requirements that were created for an older type of service in a vastly different situation.

This absolutely, positively clears the way for BWIA Service Providers... or indeed companies not yet in existence, especially individuals, to create a hobby, business, or science experiment involving VOIP and not worry about it being subject to "You're doing telephone company stuff! Therefore you must follow rules, pay taxes, meet requirements, or else go to jail".

Pulver was a real visionary for starting this action several years ago, and understanding that this question needed to be answered for the real VOIP industry (services that aren't involved in interconnection to the PSTN) to move forward.

Congratulations to Pulver and his staff for seeing this through. My applause to Commissioners Powell, Abernathy, and Martin for their vision.

Steve Stroh