It seems that VoIP just crept up overnight and became an instant success. Yet VoIP has been around for a lot longer than many people realize. VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. It is the ability to transfer audio as data packets over the Internet and to an awaiting computer, VoIP phone, or even to a standard telephone.

The reason that VoIP has gone without vast amounts of regulation is that VoIP is a completely different technology then the telephone system that we have come to know for the past 100 years. Standard telephone is known as PSTN or the Public Switched Telephone Network. It requires the use of Circuit Switching networks connected through wires. Many Federal regulations have been initiated and set in place regarding the use of the PSTN telephone system. However, due to the fact that VoIP is technology based on Packet Switching and is transferred over the Internet, Federal regulations had not been initiated concerning this technology and in fact, the government is in a sense playing catch up to regulate VoIP services and providers.

The need for regulation became apparent when several VoIP users had issues when trying to use the 911 services. Because VoIP does not use landline wires, VoIP is not incorporated with the Public Safety Emergency 911 system. When users call 911 from a landline phone the dispatcher will see a display of the callers location and address. However, when a caller with a VoIP service calls 911 no information is displayed. This is a serious concern. Especially since in critical situations, a 911 call may be made, and then the caller, for whatever reason cannot give any further details, the 911 operators will then typically trace the call and send help. However, with a VoIP service provider, they will not be able to trace the call and send any help to the person who placed the call.

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