FCC Order Applying CALEA to VoIP Providers Effective Aug. 4

The FCC's new CALEA rules, applying CALEA to interconnected VoIP providers and providers of broadband Internet access, were published in today's Federal Register and will be effective on August 4, 2006. As you will recall, the D.C. Circuit last month upheld the FCC's decision to extend CALEA obligations to VoIP and Internet access providers (see June 13 post here).

Even though the rules technically go into effect on August 4, 2006, VoIP providers and facilities-based broadband Internet access providers have until May 14, 2007 to come into compliance with CALEA. In the meantime carriers will have to file interim reports with the FCC explaining how they plan to meet the May 2007 deadline, however the format and form of those reports has not yet been finalized. A further notice setting out the requirements will be released later.