Title 47, Telegraphs, Telephones, and RadiotelegraphsRelease 119-110

§262 Ensuring the Integrity of Voice Communications

Title 47 › CHAPTER 5 — WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION › SUBCHAPTER II — COMMON CARRIERS › Part II — Development of Competitive Markets › § 262

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Any company that carries voice calls for others and charges for that service must register with the FCC and follow service-quality rules the FCC will make. A covered provider cannot use an intermediate carrier to move covered voice calls unless that carrier is registered. The FCC had to create a public registry within 180 days after February 26, 2018, and had to set service-quality rules within one year after February 26, 2018. Those rules must protect the integrity of calls for all U.S. customers and stop unfair differences in service between areas. The registry must be posted on the FCC website. These requirements apply no matter what technology, protocol, or label is used, and they do not change how communications are legally classified. They also do not limit state agencies’ power to collect data or enforce state law about local calls. One exception: a covered provider that certified as a Safe Harbor provider under 47 C.F.R. §64.2107(a) by one year after February 26, 2018, and continues to meet that rule, does not have to follow the new service-quality standards. The law defines "covered provider" by reference to 47 C.F.R. §64.2101, "covered voice communication" as a call using North American Numbering Plan numbers, and "intermediate provider" as a business that carries or routes such calls but is not the originator or final provider.

Full Legal Text

Title 47, §262

Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Registration and compliance by intermediate providers

An intermediate provider that offers or holds itself out as offering the capability to transmit covered voice communications from one destination to another and that charges any rate to any other entity (including an affiliated entity) for the transmission shall—

(1)register with the Commission; and

(2)comply with the service quality standards for such transmission to be established by the Commission under subsection (c)(1)(B).

(b)Required use of registered intermediate providers

A covered provider may not use an intermediate provider to transmit covered voice communications unless such intermediate provider is registered under subsection (a)(1).

(c)Commission rules

(1)In general

(A)Registry

Not later than 180 days after February 26, 2018, the Commission shall promulgate rules to establish a registry to record registrations under subsection (a)(1).

(B)Service quality standards

Not later than 1 year after February 26, 2018, the Commission shall promulgate rules to establish service quality standards for the transmission of covered voice communications by intermediate providers.

(2)Requirements

In promulgating the rules required by paragraph (1), the Commission shall—

(A)ensure the integrity of the transmission of covered voice communications to all customers in the United States; and

(B)prevent unjust or unreasonable discrimination among areas of the United States in the delivery of covered voice communications.

(d)Public availability of registry

The Commission shall make the registry established under subsection (c)(1)(A) publicly available on the website of the Commission.

(e)Scope of application

The requirements of this section shall apply regardless of the format by which any communication or service is provided, the protocol or format by which the transmission of such communication or service is achieved, or the regulatory classification of such communication or service.

(f)Rule of construction

Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the regulatory classification of any communication or service.

(g)Effect on other laws

Nothing in this section shall be construed to preempt or expand the authority of a State public utility commission or other relevant State agency to collect data, or investigate and enforce State law and regulations, regarding the completion of intrastate voice communications, regardless of the format by which any communication or service is provided, the protocol or format by which the transmission of such communication or service is achieved, or the regulatory classification of such communication or service.

(h)Exception

The requirement under subsection (a)(2) to comply with the service quality standards established under subsection (c)(1)(B) shall not apply to a covered provider that—

(1)on or before the date that is 1 year after February 26, 2018, has certified as a Safe Harbor provider under section 64.2107(a) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation; and

(2)continues to meet the requirements under such section 64.2107(a).

(i)Definitions

In this section: (1) Covered provider

(2)Covered voice communication

The term “covered voice communication” means a voice communication (including any related signaling information) that is generated—

(A)from the placement of a call from a connection using a North American Numbering Plan resource or a call placed to a connection using such a numbering resource; and

(B)through any service provided by a covered provider.

(3)Intermediate provider

The term “intermediate provider” means any entity that—

(A)enters into a business arrangement with a covered provider or other intermediate provider for the specific purpose of carrying, routing, or transmitting voice traffic that is generated from the placement of a call placed—

(i)from an end user connection using a North American Numbering Plan resource; or

(ii)to an end user connection using such a numbering resource; and

(B)does not itself, either directly or in conjunction with an affiliate, serve as a covered provider in the context of originating or terminating a given call.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

47 U.S.C. § 262

Title 47, Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110