Join Jonathan Marashlian, Managing Partner of Marashlian & Donahue, PLLC, The CommLaw Group, at the ITEXPO East, where he will deliver a presentation on the intersection of Interconnected VoIP and private carriage telecommunications:

Whether knowingly or not, the vast majority of UCaaS/Cloud Communications companies operate as “Interconnected VoIP” service providers (I-VoIP), per the regulatory definition established by the FCC circa 2005, in its Vonage Order. The FCC regulates I-VoIP differently than traditional telecoms. For the most part, the differences have favored I-VoIP companies, helping them to compete with incumbent carriers. Nevertheless, a significant legal classification available to traditional telecommunications competitors remains out of reach for the I-VoIP industry. That’s because a carrier whose service offering meets the definition of “Interconnected VoIP” cannot offer their services on a private carriage basis, or take advantage of certain de-regulatory benefits associated with private carriage. I-VoIP providers are also subject to more regulatory burdens and compliance fees at the State Utility Commission level than private carriers/private service providers, which largely go unregulated in the vast majority of the states. This session will highlight the issues, opportunities and benefits, as well as the risks associated with transforming your I-VoIP company into a Private Telecommunications Carrier, in whole or in part.