We were revolutionary once, too

In what can perhaps be considered a silver lining for VoIP proponents, the FCC is increasingly treating VoIP services like traditional phone services, having recently required operators and equipment manufacturers to support disability access such as the 711 dialing service, reports Ars Technica.

The new ruling means operators, such as Vonage, and manufacturers like Linksys must ensure that their gear, services and documentation are fully accessible to disabled users.

VoIP operators must also make contributions to the Telecommunications Relay Services Fund. Contributions to this fund is gathered from all telecoms to assist disabled people in more easily making phone calls.

Hearing- or speech-impaired citizens, for example, can use a TRS-funded operator to call others on their behalf by relaying messages via keyboard, which the operator then reads to the other party. This is one of a few services that can be accessed by dialing 711.

Some time ago the FCC also demanded that VoIP operators support E911 services and CALEA access for law enforcement.