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1 Shidler J. L. Com. & Tech. 1 (2004-2005)

handle is hein.journals/washjolta1 and id is 1 raw text is: Constitutional & Regulatory Cite as: Paula K. Royalty, When is a Phone Call Not a Phone Call? Legal Issues Arising from Business Use of VoIP, 1 Shidler J. L. Com. & Tech. 1 (May 26, 2004), at <http://www.lctjournal.washington.edu/vol1/a01Royalty. html> WHEN IS A PHONE CALL NOT A PHONE CALL? LEGAL ISSUES ARISING FROM BUSINESS USE OF VOIP By Paula K. Royalty' © 2004 Paula K. Royalty ABSTRACT The Voice over Internet Protocol allows telephone calls to be placed over the Internet instead of the Public Switched Telephone Network. VoIP did not exist before 1995. Now market research predicts that by 2007, 90 percent of enterprises with multiple locations will start switching to VoIP, and it will account for 75 percent of all world voice traffic.2 This article examines current legal developments that impact business use of VoIP, including the increased business records retention requirements of recent federal laws, proposed new federal eavesdropping rules, and an unsuccessful legal challenge by a state public utility commission to regulate VoIP like a telephone company. TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction What is VoIP? VoIP Today VoIP and Records Retention in the Post-9/11 and Post-Enron Era Information Service or Telecommunications Service? State Efforts to Regulate VoIP Applicability of Federal Wiretapping Law to VoIP Conclusion Practice Pointers INTRODUCTION <1> Before 1995, the term Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)