An association of state utility commissioners failed to show it was injured by a Federal Communications Commission order allowing certain voice over internet protocol providers like Vonage to get direct access to phone numbers, the D.C. Circuit ruled...dismissing the association’s challenge.
In a per curiam order, a three-judge panel that included Chief Judge Merrick Garland dispensed with the argument of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners that it had standing to challenge the November 2015 order.
The FCC order enabled “interconnected” VoIP providers — those that allow VoIP calls through regular phone networks — to obtain numbers directly from so-called numbering administrators rather than through third parties (such as CLEC's).
While NARUC had argued that the order essentially denied its members certain regulatory powers over VoIP providers, which are not classified as telecommunications services subject to their oversight, the D.C. Circuit said the group never tied its claimed harm to the regulatory changes made in the order.
https://www.law360.com/articles/905871/fcc-s-voip-phone-number-order-survives-dc-circ-challenge
While the ability to get numbers directly mostly would be used by big providers such as Vonage, anything that provides another choice besides the CLEC is a good thing....
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