From: moberg@nosc.mil (Vic Moberg)
Subject: ANNOUNCE: FCC Rulemaking Regarding Transmission of Audio
Date: Thu, 21 Mar 1996 20:47:30 GMT
Organization: NCCOSC RDT&E Division, San Diego, CA



From: moberg@nosc.mil (Vic Moberg)

Anyone involved in, or contemplating the transmission of digitized
audio between computers over the Internet for such purposes as virtual
reality, telepresence, distance teaching, and audio/video conferencing
may wish to become familiar with a March 4th petition by the
"America's Carriers Telecommunication Association" (ACTA) to the FCC
regarding Internet "telecommunications".  This petition appears to
broadly define all Internet real-time audio communications between
computer users as "telephone calls" and seeks their prohibition.  The
FCC Common Carrier Bureau responded March 8th with Public Notice
Report #2124 requesting comments on the petitioned "Rulemaking
No. 8775" with an April 8th deadline.  International communications
would appear to be affected only if passing through or terminating in
the US.  Excerpted supplemental information follows:

=======================================================================
[ Url: http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Common_Carrier/WWW/hottopic.html#acta ] 

Federal Communications Commission                                              
Common Carrier Bureau                                                          
                                RECENT ACTIONS                                 
   Comment Sought on ACTA Internet Phone Petition (March 1996)                 
          + The Commission has issued a public notice inviting comment on      
            the petition filed by America's Carriers Telecommunication         
            Association (ACTA) seeking a declaratory ruling, special           
            relief, and institution of a rulemaking proceeding dealing     
            with Internet telephony and with FCC regulation of the         
            Internet. Comments are due April 8, 1996, and reply comments   
            are due April 23, 1996.                                        
=========================================================================
[ Full text of this petition is at http://www.freetel.com/fccpet.htm ] 

THE PROVISION OF INTERSTATE AND          
INTERNATIONAL INTEREXCHANGE              
TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE VIA THE       
"INTERNET" BY NON-TARIFFED, UNCERTIFIED  
ENTITIES                                 

AMERICA'S CARRIERS TELECOMMUNICATION     
ASSOCIATION ("ACTA"),                    
     Petitioner                          
...
[ The potential regulatory scope is defined ]

(48) Telecommunications.--The term "telecommunications"          
means the transmission, between or among points specified by the 
user, of information of the user's choosing, without change in  
the form or content of the information as sent and received.     
...
[ An example is given of the type of communications to be prohibited ]

                         The software enables users to audibly    
talk with one another in real-time.  Respondents make a one-time 
charge for the software, but users incur no other charges for    
making local or long distance telephone calls to any other       
"Internet Phone" user in the world (except for whatever the user 
already pays monthly to whomever provides them Internet access). 
...
[ Some justifications given for regulation in the public's interest ]

The Internet is a unique form of wire communication.  It is a     
resource whose benefits are still being explored and whose value  
is not fully realized.  Its capacity is not, however, infinite.
The misuse of the Internet as a way to bypass the traditional     
means of obtaining long distance service could result in a        
significant reduction of the Internet's ability to handle the     
customary types of Internet traffic. 
...

Absent action by the Commission, the new technology could be used    
to circumvent restrictions traditionally found in tariffs con        
cerning unlawful uses, such as gambling, obscenity, prostitution,    
drug traffic, and other illegal acts.                                
...            
[ In conclusion ]
 
     Permitting long distance service to be given away is not in  
the public interest.  Therefore, ACTA urges the Federal Communi-  
cations Commission ("the Commission") to exercise its jurisdic-   
tion in this matter and: issue a declaratory ruling establishing  
its authority over interstate and international telecommuni-      
cations services using the Internet; grant special relief to      
maintain the status quo by immediately stop the sale of this      
software; and institute rulemaking proceedings defining permissi- 
ble communications over the Internet.
--
--
Vic Moberg                                NCCOSC RDTE DIV 842
moberg@nosc.mil                           53570 Silvergate Ave. Rm. 3421 
Phone: 619-553-6140, Fax: -6449           San Diego CA 92152-5285