Vermont Shouldn't Require VoIP Back-Up Power, Says VON Coalition
The Vermont Public Service Board may not require cable and fiber VoIP providers to provide backup power because federal law pre-empts state regulation of VoIP, said the Voice on the Net (VON) Coalition. In a Nov. 22 brief emailed to…
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us Wednesday, the VON Coalition sought amicus curiae status in a proceeding about Vermont 911 reliability (docket 8842). The backup power isn’t necessary, the coalition said, because the FCC already requires voice companies, including VoIP providers, to sell backup power options to consumers. The Vermont board plans to soon rule in a separate docket on state authority over VoIP services, PSB member Sarah Hofmann said earlier this month on a panel at the NARUC annual conference (see 1611150014). Meanwhile, at the Iowa Utilities Board, the VON Coalition submitted comments (docket RMU-2015-0002) supporting a new definition for a telephone utility that excludes VoIP services. “The proposed changes align with federal law and recognize that the Board does not have jurisdiction over VoIP or IP-enabled services,” the coalition said. “The Board action is also consistent with decisions by at least 31 other states that do not exercise regulatory authority over IP communications.” CenturyLink and other former Bells also supported the new definition, but competitors and Iowa rural LECs objected to them in comments last week (see 1611230040).