WINNIPEG, Manitoba (PRWEB) February 7, 2006 -- A group of Canadian VoIP providers and interested parties have joined forces to create a national industry association to develop and promote regulatory policy that reflects 21st century realities in the telecommunications industry.

The goal of this new non-profit association - 'the Canadian Association of VoIP Providers’ (CAVP) - is to present an independent perspective on VoIP regulatory issues to the Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Committee (CRTC) and to work in cooperation with Local Exchange Carriers (LECs) to ensure interoperability between VoIP networks and the public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

VoIP - Voice over Internet Protocol - is a technology that allows customers to make telephone calls using a broadband Internet connection instead of a regular (or analog) phone line. However, applying traditional regulatory policies to VoIP networks can impose artificial and arbitrary restrictions on emerging VoIP carriers.

By working closely with the CRTC and existing telecommunications carriers, the CAVP intends to:

* assist the CRTC in modifying regulatory policy to take into account 21st century realities in the telecommunications industry;

* provide a platform for VoIP providers to work with regulatory bodies and the telecommunications industry on regulatory and interoperability issues related to the adoption and use of VoIP services in Canada;

* provide a method of association for VoIP providers in order to achieve mutual goals, including the standardization of VoIP implementations among different providers, and advocacy and education about VoIP technologies to the media and the general public.

For more information please contact:
John Lange
www.cavp.ca

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