TELECOM Digest OnLine - Sorted: Level 3 Withdraws Request for VoIP Fee Ruling

Level 3 Withdraws Request for VoIP Fee Ruling

Jack Decker (jack-yahoogroups@withheld)
Tue, 22 Mar 2005 01:54:54 -0500

http://news.com.com/Level+3+withdraws+request+for+VoIP+fee+ruling/2100-7352_3-5629045.html

By Declan McCullagh
Staff Writer, CNET News.com

One of the most important Internet telephony rulings of the year was
expected from federal regulators Tuesday, but now it won't happen.

In a surprise move, an Internet telephony company that had asked the
Federal Communications Commission for the ruling said late Monday that
it was withdrawing its request.

Level 3 Communications had been telling the FCC that the company
should be able to pay lower fees to local telephone companies to begin
or end voice calls on their networks. The decision from the FCC was
expected to have a far-reaching impact on the voice over Internet
Protocol, or VoIP, industry. If Level 3 had lost, the prices for some
VoIP calls could have jumped.

But because FCC Chairman Michael Powell had left last week, the timing
was no longer right for a ruling, Level 3 CEO James Crowe said in a
statement. "The appointment of new leadership only three business days
before the statutory deadline for ruling on the petition" made it
"inappropriate to ask the agency to resolve this important issue in
the timeframe required by law," Crowe said.

Full story at:
http://news.com.com/Level+3+withdraws+request+for+VoIP+fee+ruling/2100-7352_3-5629045.html

Post Followup Article Use your browser's quoting feature to quote article into reply
Go to Next message: Hilbert: "Who's the Owner of the Dim-and-Burst Signaling?"
Go to Previous message: Jack Decker: "Vonage Says its Calls are Still Being Blocked"
Next in thread: DevilsPGD: "Re: Level 3 Withdraws Request for VoIP Fee Ruling"
May be reply: DevilsPGD: "Re: Level 3 Withdraws Request for VoIP Fee Ruling"
TELECOM Digest: Home Page