Cisco Reaction to FCC VoIP Decision

SAN JOSE, Calif., November 10, 2004 - Statement in response to yesterday's Federal Communication Commission (FCC) decision regarding Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services:

"This FCC decision represents an important step in the process of enabling the growth of VoIP without unnecessary government regulation. The prospect that 50 different states could have had 50 different sets of regulation for VoIP service would have been crippling to the birth of this important new technology. Cisco is pleased that Chairman Powell and the FCC Commissioners have recognized that VoIP and a myriad of related new services portend a wealth of low cost, compelling consumer services which know no jurisdictional boundaries. This ruling allows for an environment that fosters innovation, which is vital to the growth of new consumer services and the technology industry's continued expansion."