A bipartisan majority of House Commerce Committee members signed ...
A bipartisan majority of House Commerce Committee members signed a letter to FCC Chmn. Powell urging the Commission to adopt federal jurisdiction over VoIP as part of the Vonage proceeding. Pushed by House Commerce Committee Vice Chmn. Pickering (R-Miss.),…
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the letter focused on VoIP jurisdictional issues while remaining neutral on other issues such as intercarrier compensation, universal service and public safety. Pickering sponsored comprehensive VoIP legislation that won’t see a markup this session. However, the letter said: “We believe that such an important, but narrow, finding cannot wait for a more comprehensive VoIP bill to work its way through the legislative process.” The letter was signed by 61 House members, including 33 Commerce Committee members. Committee Chmn. Barton (R-Tex.), Telecom Subcommittee Chmn. Upton (R-Mich.) and 8 Commerce Committee Democrats signed the letter, as did Majority Whip Blunt (R-Mo.). An industry source said the letter was a “hell of an accomplishment” for Pickering. The source pointed out that Pickering’s office drew the support in 10 days and got several Democrats to sign. Also, the letter brings together Barton, who traditionally supports policy favorable to ILECs, and Pickering, known for supporting telecom policy favorable to CLECs, the source said. Steve Trotman, CompTel/ASCENT senior vp-state programs & education, said it was important that the jurisdictional question be answered quickly, and CompTel/ASCENT was very pleased with the letter and hoped the FCC would soon rule VoIP an interstate service with federal jurisdiction. Brian Adkins, NARUC legislative dir., said it was encouraging that the letter also said that the FCC should recognize “the legitimate role of state consumer protection and public safety laws of general applicability.” Adkins said he had concerns about the “general applicability” phrase, since it could be interpreted to exclude telecom-specific consumer protection measures. While the FCC might consider this letter when reaching its conclusions on VoIP, Adkins said it should also consider the recent Senate Commerce Committee vote to include in Sen. Sununu’s (R-N.H.) VoIP bill measures that would retain state authority to regulate VoIP for access charges, state universal service funds and E-911 rules.