Cloud Communications Alliance Urges FCC to Docket Petition Reinforcing Vonage Preemption and Blocking California’s Regulatory Overreach

CCA remains committed to working with industry stakeholders and policymakers to preserve regulatory certainty and protect competition and innovation in the cloud communications space.

Washington, D.C. - February 20, 2025 - Today, representatives from the Cloud Communications Alliance (CCA) met with the office of FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to urge the Commission to docket the CCA-CVA Petition for Declaratory Ruling and initiate a public proceeding. The petition calls on the FCC to reaffirm the Vonage Preemption Order (2004) and prevent the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) from unlawfully imposing state-level regulations on VoIP services.

The CPUC’s actions represent a direct challenge to federal preemption and could be the first domino to fall in dismantling the light-touch regulatory framework that has enabled the VoIP industry to thrive for more than two decades.

“The CPUC’s regulatory overreach is not just a threat to VoIP providers—it is a backdoor attempt to exert control over broadband networks,” said Joe Marion, President of CCA. “The FCC must act swiftly to prevent California from setting a dangerous precedent that could trigger a nationwide wave of conflicting state regulations, undermining investment and innovation in the industry.”

During the meeting, CCA reiterated that the CPUC’s effort to require VoIP providers to obtain Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCNs) is not an isolated issue. It is part of a broader state strategy to exert regulatory oversight over broadband providers. Industry filings highlight that California is investing heavily in broadband expansion—particularly in historically underserved communities—and the CPUC’s attempt to impose CPCN requirements could serve as a regulatory lever to control broadband infrastructure.

“California has historically set regulatory trends that other states follow,” added Marion. “If the FCC does not act, VoIP and broadband providers will face a patchwork of state-by-state compliance burdens that undermine decades of federal policy.”

CCA urges the FCC to:

• Docket the CCA-CVA Petition immediately.
• Open the petition for public comment to gather industry perspectives.
• Issue a declaratory ruling reaffirming that the Vonage Preemption Order remains binding and precludes state regulation of VoIP services.

CCA remains committed to working with industry stakeholders and policymakers to preserve regulatory certainty and protect competition and innovation in the cloud communications space. CCA invites communications service providers from around the world to join the annual Cloud Connections meeting, in St. Petersburg, Florida on April 14-16. 

For media inquiries and/or anyone interested in supporting the fight to protect the light-touch regulatory framework that has fostered the growth and innovation of the VoIP industry for over two decades, please contact:

Joe Marion
President, Cloud Communications Alliance
📧 jmarion@cloudcommunications.com
📞 (561) 232-3891