Today, one of the biggest questions facing VoIP providers in the United States is whether VoIP traffic should be subjected to any or all of the various common carrier regulations. Under current law, VoIP is generally classified as an "information service" - and is considered exempt from rules that govern telecommunication services. However, with the growth of VoIP, a number of legacy service providers have begun to argue that VoIP traffic should be classified and regulated differently - as a "telecommunications service" subject to the same requirements as traditional voice calls.

A number of companies that provide VoIP services, including Level 3, have submitted formal requests to the FCC seeking to clarify the current regulatory and economic obligations surrounding Voice over IP. This primer offers a high- level overview of VoIP and of the FCC's telecommunications rules regarding this innovative technology. It also sets forth Level 3's positions on VoIP regulation and the company's basic proposals for the Commission as it grapples with this complex issue.