Leading Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers, represented by the Cloud Communications Alliance (CCA) and the Cloud Voice Alliance (CVA), have formally petitioned the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to preempt California’s recently enacted regulations, which the providers argue constitute an “overreach” that threatens the uniform application of federal telecom rules.
In a June 12 filing, the CCA and CVA emphasized that their request is not intended to undermine state consumer protection laws but to ensure consistent enforcement of existing federal precedents. The petition calls for the FCC to apply the 2004 Vonage preemption ruling uniformly, specifically addressing California’s interconnection rules enforced by the California Public Utilities Commission, which the petitioners contend are superseded by federal regulations promoting market competition and affordability.
“For two decades, states have exercised consumer protection authority within the framework established by Vonage preemption,” stated the CCA. “Our goal is consistent application of federal precedent to prevent any one state’s regulations from disrupting the uniform treatment of nomadic VoIP services that Congress and the FCC intended.”
The filing comes amid ongoing debate between consumer advocacy groups and industry stakeholders over the scope of telecom regulation. Consumer groups, including the National Consumer Law Center and eight others, oppose the petition, warning that federal preemption could exempt VoIP providers from vital state regulations requiring disclosure of bankruptcies, regulatory violations, and other information critical to consumer protection.
“These types of blanket exemptions can facilitate phone scams and fraud by providing scammers with anonymous access to the U.S. phone network,” the consumer groups stated. They argue that states have a crucial role in policing VoIP providers to protect consumers from fraud and abuse.
Despite these concerns, the CCA maintains that its petition does not seek to diminish state consumer protections but rather to remove market entry barriers, rate regulations, and quality of service rules traditionally overseen by state utility commissions.
“The CCA-CVA petition seeks only the application of existing, well-established Vonage preemption doctrine to address California’s regulatory overreach — not an expansion of federal preemption or a diminishment of state consumer protection authority,” the alliance explained.
The FCC has yet to issue a response to the filing.
