Rhode Island General Laws Title 39. Public Utilities and Carriers § 39-28-1. Findings

The Rhode Island general assembly finds that growth and enhancement of services using Internet protocol technology provide Rhode Island consumers more choice in voice, data, and video services than at any other time. The proliferation of new technologies and applications and the growing number of providers developing and offering innovative services using Internet protocol are due in large part to little barrier to investment, including freedom from state laws and regulations governing traditional telephone service, that these technologies have enjoyed in Rhode Island, as well as recognition that federal law is more uniform in its oversight of Internet protocol-enabled services. The economic benefits, including consumer choice, new jobs, and significant capital investment, will be jeopardized and competition minimized by the imposition of traditional state entry, rate, and service-term regulation on voice-over-Internet protocol service and Internet protocol-enabled service.