David Isenberg, in his latest entry identified a news item from Yahoo News that categorizes VoIP into three groups: VoIP is used only as a transport technology bridging two PSTN segments; the second is VoIP begins and ends in the IP network; and finally the call traverses from IP network to PSTN. It looks like different regulatory regime will be imposed on each type and there might be a small problem with the current thinking.
The second type may end up unregulated because it is no different than other data communication applications which are unregulated thus far. An inescapable decision. The first kind should be treated simply as a different transmission technology, just like when TASI or Frame Relay technology that were/are used in intercontinental trunks. It looks like FCC is also thinking along these lines. A smart move.
It looks like FCC may allow free PSTN access to calls that originate in the Internet. Not a smart idea. How do we conclude whether a call originated in the Internet or not? I can buy one of many FXO-FXS converter boxes and make a call that originated in the PSTN to look as if it originated in the Internet. So the earlier smart move can be easily undermined.
Bottom line: We can not determine the original access technology.
Posted by aswath at January 11, 2004 10:41 AM