MYTHS & MISPERCEPTIONS: Regulatory and Tax Responsibilities for Retailers/ Suppliers of Telecommunications Services

THE MYTH: Telecommunications resellers do not need to register and/or pay taxes and regulatory fees if their Supplier has already done so.  THE REALITY: Telecommunications resellers remain responsible for registration and payment of taxes and regulatory fees regardless of their Supplier’s conduct.          There is a common misperception that resellers of telecommunications […]

MYTHS vs. MISPERCEPTIONS: FCC Registration Requirements for Non-Facilities-Based Telecommunications & VoIP Providers

THE MYTH: Non-facilities-based telecommunications and VoIP providers are not required to register with the FCC. THE REALITY: Non-facilities-based telecommunications and VoIP providers must register with the FCC and are subject to a wide variety of regulatory compliance and reporting obligations.   There is a common misperception that providers of non-facilities-based telecommunications and Voice over Internet […]

MYTHS & MISPERCEPTIONS: De-Mystifying the Regulation & Taxation of Telecom, Data & Internet Access Services

  THE MYTH:   Data and Internet Access services are “the same,” and neither is regulated nor subject to transaction taxes (sales, use, excise, utility, etc.). THE REALITY: The common misconception that “Data” and “Internet Access” services are exempt from regulation and taxation overlooks the nuanced legal reality. The regulation and taxation of these services […]

Regulatory Obligations of Non-Facilities-Based VoIP Service Providers

Introduction In the telecommunications industry, a common misperception exists about the regulatory and tax obligations of non-facilities-based VoIP service providers. This includes resellers and companies that private label services from platforms such as SkySwitch, Viirtue, VOIP Innovations, and White Label Communications. Contrary to widespread belief, these entities face substantial direct obligations to the government, irrespective […]

Educational Advisory: Robocall Mitigation for VoIP Providers and Pure Resellers: Mitigating Legal Exposure for Inadvertently Facilitating Customers’ Illegal Traffic in View of a Recent Lawsuit Filed Against Lingo Telecom and May 28 Deadline to Register in Robocall Mitigation Database

Mitigating Liability for VoIP Customers’ Illegal Robocalls VoIP service providers are increasingly finding themselves at the center of legal, financial, and reputational storms due to their inadvertent role in transmitting illegal robocall traffic. A prime example is Lingo Telecom LLC (“Lingo”), a provider currently embroiled not only in an FCC investigation, but in litigation, accused […]

Ensuring Compliance with FCC’s CALEA Regulations – The Importance of Filing a System Security & Integrity Plan (SSI Plan)

Our firm is acutely aware of the (increasingly) complex and extensive legal and regulatory compliance landscape that companies operating in the telecommunications sector face. Whether your business provides traditional wireline, VoIP, cloud-based services, wireless solutions, or other telecom services, navigating the vast array of regulatory requirements can be daunting, especially for smaller providers. In our […]

EDUCATIONAL ADVISORY: U.S. Robocall Mitigation Ecosystem Demands All Telecommunications Companies Pay Attention as New Threats Emerge and Compliance Balloons Well Beyond Mere FCC Compliance

STIR/SHAKEN — before you break out the martini glasses, this is not about the new James Bond film. Instead, this boozy-sounding acronym represents just one discrete element of broad Federal and state government-led effort to crack down on annoying (and often unlawful) telemarketing calls.  If you were under the impression that implementing STIR/SHAKEN and complying […]