FCC May Force VoIP Providers To Contribute Into The Universal Service Fund?

Rumours are circulating that the FCC will force VoIP service providers to pay a contribution into the Universal Service Fund, which helps to pay for telecoms in schools and libraries.

While some VoIP providers are already paying into the Universal Service Fund, some fear that the fund will lose revenue if policy regarding VoIP is not strengthened. However, it is not clear on how any law enforcing a contribution would affect software based VoIP services such as those offered by Skype and MSN Messenger.

In a recent interview at Q&A session hosted by Comptel, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin commented that the United States government should “move to collection for the Universal Service Fund that is technology-neutral.” This would suggest that the contribution would be mandatory, regardless of what technology was used to provide VoIP.

Mr. Martin also went on to add that legislators are currently looking into a revision of the 1996 telecoms bill to make a contribution a legal obligation to VoIP providers. The bill is due to go before Congress for debate in 2006.