View all text of Part II [§ 251 - § 262]
§ 262. Ensuring the integrity of voice communications
(a) Registration and compliance by intermediate providersAn 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
(c) Commission rules
(1) In general
(A) Registry
(B) Service quality standards
(2) RequirementsIn 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
(e) Scope of application
(f) Rule of construction
(g) Effect on other laws
(h) ExceptionThe 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) DefinitionsIn this section:
(1) Covered provider
(2) Covered voice communicationThe 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 providerThe 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.
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title II, § 262, as added Pub. L. 115–129, § 2, Feb. 26, 2018, 132 Stat. 329.)