russotto
join:2000-10-05
Collegeville, PA | reply to davoice
Re: When are they going to learn?
Unless they're going to argue that VoIP isn't interstate commerce, the courts are unlikely to overrule the FCC on this one, though. |
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davoice
join:2000-08-12
Saxapahaw, NC
 ·Comporium
1 edit | I'm waiting for someone like the UN to chime in that VOIP and internet service is international commerce and thus only subject to international commerce laws. Just wait for the first European company to start terminating US based DIDs on a EU based softswitch and things will get very interesting.
Edit: And yes, that is technically possible. You could route SS& call setup traffic via an international ATM connection and provide the termination and setup for calls destined for the US via IP. I just don't think it's cost effective yet. But let a Euro carrier get some scale and you might see some interesting effects.
- Davoice |
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tapeloop
1959. I try to kick the ball. I miss.
Premium
join:2004-06-27
Airstrip One
| said by davoice  :I'm waiting for someone like the UN to chime in that VOIP and internet service is international commerce and thus only subject to international commerce laws. Just wait for the first European company to start terminating US based DIDs on a EU based softswitch and things will get very interesting. Edit: And yes, that is technically possible. You could route SS& call setup traffic via an international ATM connection and provide the termination and setup for calls destined for the US via IP. I just don't think it's cost effective yet. But let a Euro carrier get some scale and you might see some interesting effects. The technical part may be correct, but that part about the UN isn't. The UN isn't so much a governing body so much as an organization where sovereign member nations pay dues. (Which the US hasn't been doing much of lately...  )
You're probably thinking of the WTO. In which case the existing international telecom agreements would probably apply, but I'm not too well-versed in that area. |
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davoice
join:2000-08-12
Saxapahaw, NC
·Comporium
| Actually, the UN has been eyeing controlling the internet - along with the ITU. There has been quite bit of mumbling within UN committies about taking control of the internet away from the US (and entities like ICANN) and bringing it into the UN.
- Davoice |
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tapeloop
1959. I try to kick the ball. I miss.
Premium
join:2004-06-27
Airstrip One
| said by davoice :Actually, the UN has been eyeing controlling the internet - along with the ITU. There has been quite bit of mumbling within UN committies about taking control of the internet away from the US (and entities like ICANN) and bringing it into the UN. Have any links with such info? I haven't heard anything about this UN push. |
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russotto
join:2000-10-05
Collegeville, PA | reply to davoice
It's done all the time the other way around -- companies in Canada sometimes route Canada-to-Canada calls through the US because it's cheaper that way. Or it was; that loophole might have been fixed since I heard of it. |
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davoice
join:2000-08-12
Saxapahaw, NC
·Comporium
| reply to tapeloop
»www.techcentralstation.com/121503E.html
»www.detnews.com/2004/technology/···5722.htm
»www.washtimes.com/world/20031208···682r.htm
- Daniel |
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tapeloop
1959. I try to kick the ball. I miss.
Premium
join:2004-06-27
Airstrip One
|  Thanks for the links. Very enlightening.
Still, I think the VOIP/commerce issue would be more in the WTO's bailiwick than the UN or whatever task force they come up with.
On one hand, there's good potential in allowing other countries--developing nations especially--help guide the development of the Internet. Hopefully it would give freedom of communication to countries like China and North Korea. (Wouldn't hold my breath though. )
Then again, I'm not too keen on a body with a track record such as the UN's running the 'Net. (Have they fixed anything lately?  ) Fortunately there was compromise thanks to Japan, the EU and Canada(eh). |
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