US VOIP providers to report outages

network outages in the way landline and mobile service providers must follow, CNET reports.

"We are helping ensure that consumers will have access to reliable phone services, particularly when calling 911, whether they are using a traditional telephone or one that operates by interconnected VOIP service," explains FCC chairman Julius Genachowski.

The National Cable and Telecommunications Association opposed extending the outage requirements to VOIP, arguing that the cost of identifying and reporting outages would outweigh any benefits, Broadcasting & Cable states.

The FCC also voted to establish a consistent regulatory approach to reining in telemarketing calls and texts to both wired and wireless phones, including requiring written consent from consumers and giving them an easy opt-out.

Under the new rules, the FCC will use outage reports to track and analyse information on interconnected VOIP outages affecting 911 service and see if other steps are needed to prevent other outages from occurring, Fierce Telecom says.

One area that the FCC rules do not address is broadband Internet service outages, something that Genachowski says the Commission would address with telecoms industry service providers to develop a voluntary method to track those outages.