FCC approves new VoIP taxes

June 22, 2006
Well, we knew it was inevitable that the FCC would pass on USF (Universal Service Charges) taxes onto VoIP service providers and thereby unto VoIP subscribers. I griped about this pending tax just recently. Well, the FCC voted unanimously yesterday to require all voice over Internet Protocol services that connect to the public-switched telephone network (PSTN) to contribute to the Universal Service Fund.  ZDNet has an excellent overview of this news, as does TMCnet's Robert Liu. Although the ZDNet article says peer-to-peer VoIP companies such as Skype are excluded. I'm not sure why Skype would be excluded when they too terminate to the PSTN via SkypeOut. How does that make Skype any different than Vonage?

I'll have to check out the ruling in a minute. Maybe software-based VoIP solutions get some sort of special exemption even though they too terminate to the PSTN? I doubt it though. More likely ZDNet misread the ruling and Skype also needs to apply the tax for anyone using SkypeOut terminating to the U.S PSTN network.

Good luck collecting that tax money from Skype, Mr. FCC! For one, Skype isn't a U.S.-based company, and second, need I remind you that Mr. Zennstrom, Skype's CEO is still wanted in the U.S. (especially by the RIAA) for his role in Kazaa, the p2p file-sharing network? Catch him and tax him "if you can", Mr. FCC...

For a laugh, check out the Family Guy's take on the FCC:


Post a comment

See this page in TechnoratiTechnoratibook mark in del.icio.usDel.icio.usSlashdot.comSlashdotSubmit to Digg.comDigg

Tags: , , , , ,

Search Technorati: , , , , ,
Related Tags: , , ,

Using each Web Services and AJAX, links below show you related pages by searching the web

Search System::VoIPVideo::FCC


Listed below are links to sites that reference FCC approves new VoIP taxes:

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL:
http://blog.tmcnet.com/mt3/t.fcgi/25856

Comments to FCC approves new VoIP taxes


  1. Hoodia :
    June 23, 2006 11:20 AM

    I guess it makes sense if they are going to hook up to the PSTN, but eventually I'm sure it will break free of that.

    You are right, good luck at catching the skype guy....


  1. sandman :
    June 23, 2006 8:03 PM

    While I'm all for people signing up for *any* VoIP service not owned by Big Telco, yours is a spam post, sport.


  1. Darin McDonald :
    November 16, 2007 12:55 PM

    Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this tax the same one instituted to help fund the Spanish American war? check out the link www.homelandstupidity.us/2005/07/02/spanish-american-war-tax-on-telephone-service-continues-today/

    It really gets my goat...


(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)