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 NEWS  News  media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  Fax-  On-  Demand  202  /  418-  2830  TTY  202/  418-  2555  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  ftp.  fcc.  gov  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12  th  Street,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  This  is  an  unofficial  announcement  of  Commission  action.  Release  of  the  full  text  of  a  Commission  order  constitutes  official  action.  See  MCI  v.  FCC.  515  F  2d  385  (D.  C.  Circ  1974). 
 FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE  NEWS  MEDIA  CONTACT  November  6,  2003  David  Fiske  202-  418-  0513 
 Richard  Diamond  202-  418-  0506 


 FCC  to  Begin  Internet  Telephony  Proceedings  VOIP  Forum  Scheduled  for  December  1 


 Federal  Communications  Commission  Chairman  Michael  K.  Powell  announced  yesterday  that  the  FCC  will  hold  a  forum  on  Voice  over  IP  issues  on  December  1,  2003. 
 Powell  also  announced  that,  shortly  after  the  forum,  the  Commission  will  initiate  a  Notice  of  Public  Rule  Making  (NPRM)  to  inquire  about  the  migration  of  voice  services  to  IP-  based 
 networks  and  gather  public  comment  on  the  appropriate  regulatory  environment  for  these  services. 


 “As  new  digital  technologies  and  Internet  applications,  such  as  VOIP,  challenge  the  established  technological,  market  and  regulatory  structures  of  our  analog  past,  the  FCC  will 
 continue  to  stay  at  the  forefront  of  change,”  wrote  Powell  in  a  letter  responding  to  an  inquiry  from  U.  S.  Senator  Ron  Wyden  (D-  OR). 


 The  December  hearing  will  invite  industry  and  government  leaders  to  discuss  how  digital  technologies  are  being  used  to  provide  innovative  and  affordable  voice  services  to  consumers 
 and  stimulate  economic  growth.  It  will  also  explore  regulatory  classification  issues  and  explore  the  best  means  to  achieve  important  health,  safety  and  welfare  policy  objectives  such  as  E911, 
 universal  service  and  homeland  security. 
 A  copy  of  the  letter  to  Senator  Wyden  is  attached. 
 –  FCC  – 
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