WhyADuck
Premium
join:2003-03-05
| California moves against VoIP
An article on Voxilla.com states that "VoicePulse CEO Ravi Sakaria has received a letter from John Leutza, Director of the California PUC's Telecommunications Division, demanding that the company 'file an application with the Commission for authority to conduct business as a telecommunications utility no later than October 22, 2003.'" The article also indicates that it is unknown whether other VoIP companies have received similar letters. If not, it would be very strange that California would choose to move against VoicePulse only, since VoicePulse has no numbers (for local calls) in California (and since Packet8 in particular is located in California).
Read the full article at:
»www.voxilla.com/modules.php?op=m···&order=0 |
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Derwin0
join:2003-07-16
| Also, Voicepulse is located in New Jersey. Since they have no physical presence in California, it is impossible for California to regulate them. Individuals and Businesses are protected from suits by "foreign entities" when they do no business in that state.
If I was Voicepulse I'd ignore the letter, or have a New Jersey court issue a summary judgement ruling California has no business doing anything with Voicepulse.
Packet8 should have more to worry about, and Vonage as well since they have California numbers. |
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Cam
Premium
join:2003-01-25
Luther, OK
clubs: | California is trying to do anything they can to fix their budget problems, this is just another attempt to bring money into their state's coffers. |
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jeffpulver
Premium,VIP
join:2003-02-08
Melville, NY
| reply to WhyADuck
I received a heads up from a friend in CA a couple of weeks ago about this but I wasn't able to verify this. Now that it has been reported, I have to thank my contact for the heads up. I did ask my contacts at NARUC about it when I saw them last week at VON, and at the time, they said they didn't have any additional information.
Also I heard first hand that the State of WA may be next in going after the IP Communication Service providers.
As a complete aside, I expect to be able to offer the WiSIP phone bundled with communication services powered by IP Communication service providers. I'm wondering out loud whether or not this means that I will end up getting letters from similar organizations demand that I start to comply with the rules and regulations of being a "Cellular" provider. ;-( |
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ieee1394
Premium
join:2001-08-25
Washington
 ·TowerStream
| reply to WhyADuck
Hrmm. This is going to get weird isn't it? If traditional phone service is regulated at the state level, and that requires the telco to have a presence in that state (in order to be regulated), then how do those states propose to regulate companies that don't have a physical presence? Will this become a federal issue? |
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oliphant5
Got Identity?
Premium
join:2003-05-24
Corona, CA
| reply to Cam
said by Cam  :
California is trying to do anything they can to fix their budget problems, this is just another attempt to bring money into their state's coffers.
No doubt, with Bustawallete looking for another $10 billion in new business taxes, it doesn't surprise me that state regulators are yet again looking to kill off business.
They should just wait 'till Oct 7th 
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-- Munis Killed the Telco Star -- Powered by Barry McKockenner Racing in association with Jack Mikkokov Motorsports |
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tunes
join:2002-01-31
Grosse Ile, MI
 ·Vonage
| quote:
Bustawallete looking for another $10 billion
Gotta be one of the funniest things I've heard all week. "Bustawallete" better hope Arnold doesn't get ahold of this one liner...
Sincere apologies for the off topic post, I couldn't help myself....
--
1.21 gigawatts!
[text was edited by author 2003-09-30 13:07:37] |
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Phoenix2088
join:2002-12-04
Strongsville, OH
clubs:
| reply to WhyADuck
Another reason not to vote for Gov. Davis,  .
[text was edited by author 2003-09-30 15:02:36] |
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Zorglub
join:2000-11-18
Fremont, CA
| Well, we have yet to hear from Gubernator how he's gonna solve CA's mess. Basically, like every other state, education, health care and law enforcement represent something like 90%+ of the budget. In the last 2 years, the state has cut a lot of fat, fees are going up everywhere and services are going down. Now, I'd love to hear from the recall supporters how they think that Arnold and the other clowns will do better than Davis, besides delivering wishful thinking one-liners.
I'd bet that Arnold will figure out the minute he comes in office that he will have to increase taxes/fees/whatever to balance the budget because there isn't much fat to cut anymore. Then, I'll be laughing. |
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oliphant5
Got Identity?
Premium
join:2003-05-24
Corona, CA
| There has been NO CUTS in the state budget. In fact this years joke of a budget is $2 billion larger than last year and 44,000 new gov't jobs during what was supposed to be a hiring freeze. Revenue outpaced both population and inflation yet Davis and his cronies spent nearly double that.
It's simple...start vetoing. Davis is a money pandering whore who sells out the state for the sake of campaign contributions. He sold us out on the car tax and he sold us out on the driver license bill, he sold us out on the 38% raises for prison guards, he sold us out on the hiring of 44,000 new state workers, he sold us out with the pension increases, he has sold us out time and time again to the tune of $38 billion...then illegally borrowed the money to cover the debt as well as illegally raised the car tax.
He and his democrat buddies are a joke and they're gone.
It's time for real cuts in spending...they were able to do without that $38 billion 4 years ago...they can do without it today.
[text was edited by author 2003-09-30 15:45:59] |
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Peatmoss
join:2001-04-20
Campbell, CA
|  Well stated! I'm voting for Arnold. My dog can do a better job than any of the others. Really, how could u do worse? Arnold sincerely wants to do a good job, else he will tarnish his public image. We have to get rid of these career politicians that only worry about their self preservation. Think about it, if I were Davis and there was a recall I would step down and admit defeat, he is in denial. Also all issues discussed in campaigning and debate are the tip of the decision making iceberg. What I really want is someone that I know will make the right decision when the time comes. |
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floshcannon
join:2003-06-05
Ashland, MO |
Plain and simple: we need a positive FCC ruling to SHUT THESE STATES THE HELL UP |
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oliphant5
Got Identity?
Premium
join:2003-05-24
Corona, CA | Cannah get an Amen to that! |
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balaton
join:2003-03-28
Pomona, NY | reply to WhyADuck
Why don't they - the VoIP providers - just move their servers to "Penguin Islands" and tell everyone to go knock, knock... |
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jarruda
join:2002-08-25
Pompano Beach, FL
| said by balaton :
Why don't they - the VoIP providers - just move their servers to "Penguin Islands" and tell everyone to go knock, knock...
Because they still need to have the gateways to PSTN somewhere in the physical location where the call need to terminate (example, I assume they've a media gateway somewhere in broward/954, the same with any location where they offer numbers) ? |
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Cam
Premium
join:2003-01-25
Luther, OK
clubs:
| reply to floshcannon
said by floshcannon :
Plain and simple: we need a positive FCC ruling to SHUT THESE STATES THE HELL UP
Ain't that the truth! |
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Like2go4x4
join:2003-03-07
San Jose, CA
|  reply to oliphant5
What most people don't realize is that when Cruz Bustamante was in the State Legislature, he helped create this mess over the last several years...
1999-2000 Budget Surplus Tie-in
In the recent past, California has had the largest budget surplus in U.S. history -- somewhere in the neighborhood of $5 billion, with many analysts claiming much more. The situation came down to this: REFUND the surplus back to taxpayers, or SPEND it all on every campaign-supporting special interest group screaming "Hey, give US some!"
When interviewed, Cruz Bustamante was succinct in his position on the issue:
"Of course we'll give [the surplus] back to them.... that's what we do when we spend it for them." Wow. The arrogance. Spoken like a true tax-and-spend liberal.
FACT: California is in the mess it's in because instead of using the surplus correctly, our elected Moneyspenders in Sacramento decided to raise long-term spending across the board -- knowing full well that the big bucks would not continue to to roll in. In other words, California legislators have spent the last three years spending like a bunch of over-funded dot-com CEO's. Those economics don't work (dot-com bust, anyone?), and the legislators -- past, current, and especially Bustamante -- are hoping voters won't connect the dots here.
Bustamante and VOIP (and anything else he can tax)
With that kind of attitude toward taxpayers ("It's ours! ALL ours I tell ya! Even when we take too much!"), the VOIP tax would seem de rigour. But remember, Bustamante is more than just about taxing, as no tax is complete without a new bureaucracy to "manage" (read, incrementally increase) the new tax collection.
Speaking of VIOP and overstepping authority: Many state laws passed under Bustamante's legislative leadership have already been overturned as grossly unconstitutional over-reaching of authority. Most notable of these it the car importation "fees" for new residents bringing their cars with them. The court ultimately invalidated the law and ordered the return of millions in illegally collected taxes. Bustamante's proven leadership modus operandi is to simply flaunt the law and even constitutional boundaries, then see how much he can get away with in court. Anyone who thinks he won't do the same with VOIP (as he's done with the surplus, car imports, etc.) is kidding themselves.
Ya know, some days I feel like a U.S. citizen, but other days I feel I have little more than "legal alien" status in the People's Republic of Mexifornia.
Phil |
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Zorglub
join:2000-11-18
Fremont, CA
| reply to oliphant5
said by oliphant5 :
It's simple...start vetoing. Davis is a money pandering whore who sells out the state for the sake of campaign contributions. He sold us out on the car tax and he sold us out on the driver license bill, he sold us out on the 38% raises for prison guards, he sold us out on the hiring of 44,000 new state workers, he sold us out with the pension increases, he has sold us out time and time again to the tune of $38 billion...then illegally borrowed the money to cover the debt as well as illegally raised the car tax.
44,000 new jobs. Wow, do you have a breakdown of that? How many of those are teachers and policemen? Which one will you fire first? Should we cut back on education back to the old levels when CA was one of the last states in the country in spending per kid?
Car tax: if I remember correctly, the decrease in the car licensing fee was implemented by Wilson, and was specifically set up so that the tax would go down in good times, and back to its old level in bad times. Raising the car tax was absolutely not illegal. That's a fact. I don't like Davis all that much, but I hate all the other clowns even more.
I'm no tax and spend freak, and I don't enjoy paying taxes, but I'm not naive either, and don't believe you can get as much with paying less. Those who do will have a painful awakening in the next few months. |
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oliphant5
Got Identity?
Premium
join:2003-05-24
Corona, CA
| What...did California not exist before 1998? Somehow there were dead in the streets, dogs and cats living together...the world wasn't ending.
How many of those 44,000 workers would I fire? All of them. As for the car tax, any increase must be approved by 2/3 vote of the legislature...period. They tried, couldn't get it passed, so Davis pushed it through anyway.
Most other states get way more and pay less (per capita spending). So we're spending 40% more than we were 4 years ago...what do we have to show for these billions lost? Better pensions for fire fighters...bribed unions?
They WASTED BILLIONS...no f-ing way are they getting another penny. You don't treat an addict by giving more of what they crave. It's not tough love to tax the crap out of the people who didn't do anything wrong. Tough love is FINALLY telling these tax and spend whores ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
Come Oct 7th...that's what they'll hear. Gridlock on the budget...damn straight. Especially when the courts throwing out the illegal borrowing...we're going to have to look at the budget again...and for ONCE the leftist legislature is going to have to CUT.
Note to all political tax and spend hacks...it's not philanthropy when it's other peoples money...it's downright theft and abuse and the revolution is coming next Tuesday.
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-- Munis Killed the Telco Star -- Powered by Barry McKockenner Racing in association with Jack Mikkokov Motorsports
[text was edited by author 2003-09-30 19:20:59] |
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Sactojon
Premium
join:2002-11-14
Sacramento, CA
| reply to jeffpulver
Jeff,
As a resident of California, and a user of VoIP I am not very happy about this at all (as I am sure many are not)! Is there anyone at the CPUC that we can send a letter or email to that would care about our situation?? Thanks!
John |
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