International callback has become the newest technology to help foreign companies and individuals drastically reduce their cost for international calling. Since its recent introduction, telecommunications companies in the US are scrambling to meet the overwhelming demand this new technology has created. International calling costs are reduced, because instead of routing the calls through the local phone companies in foreign countries, the callback system routes the calls through the networks in place in the US, where the rates are much lower. This is the concept behind international callback. This reduction in costs for international calling allows companies to be more competitive in the international marketplace. It also allows individuals to stay more in contact with friends and family members.

The procedure itself is simple. Dial a regular US telephone number, that has been provided by us, using your normal dialing procedures. Once you hear the ringing sound of the phone, hang up. You are not charged for this portion of the call. Within seconds, the system will call you back. When you answer the call, you will get a dial tone for you to place your call. You then dial the number you are calling and wait for the party to answer. After finishing your call, you simply hang up, or press a button on your phone to place another call.

When you sign-up for an international callback service, please note that the service is very flexible, and you use it only when you wish. Therefore if you are in a location or country with the local telecom giving a better rate for a neigbouring country, just dial the normal way. This way using both the local telecom and callback service you will always get maximum savings on all you phone calls.

The following information relates to the legality of international callback from the perspective of the Unites States Federal Communications Commission:

NEWS Report No. IN 95-15
INTERNATIONAL ACTION June 15, 1995
FCC FINDS INTERNATIONAL CALL-BACK CONSISTENT WITH U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL LAW

The Commission has adopted an Order on Reconsideration confirming that international "call back" service using uncompleted call signaling violates neither U.S. nor international law. It said that call-back is in the public interest because the resulting competition between U.S. call-back providers and foreign carriers charging higher rates ultimately lowers foreign rates to the benefit of consumers and industry abroad and in the United States. The Commission added, however, that U.S. based call-back operators may not provide call-back using uncompleted call signaling in foreign countries where this offering is expressly prohibited by law.
"Call-back" offerings enable customers abroad to access U.S. international service and pay U.S. rates for international calls rather than the generally higher prices charged by foreign carriers. One means of accessing U.S. international lines from a foreign country is by "uncompleted call signaling." This method allows a foreign customer to access U.S. long distance lines by placing a signaling call to a computerized device in the United States. The customer hangs up before the call is completed and thereafter receives a return call from the device which provides U.S. dial-tone. The call is then billed at U.S. rates.

After the Commission, on April 12, 1994, authorized three U.S. companies to resell international switched services in this manner, AT&T requested reconsideration on the grounds that call-back using uncompleted call signaling violated the federal wire fraud statute and Sections 201, 202 and 214 of the Communications Act. The Commission subsequently expanded the proceeding to address questions of international law and comity which had been presented by a number of foreign governments and carriers. The Departments of Justice and State submitted views, at FCC request, on the wire fraud and international issues respectively.

The Commission concurred with the Department of Justice opinion that the use of uncompleted call signaling is not wire fraud because U.S. carriers do not charge for such calls, and further confirmed that the practice does not violate the Communications Act. The Commission also concluded that call-back using uncompleted call signaling does not violate international law. It agreed with the Department of State that call-back is not prohibited or otherwise restricted by International Telecommunications Union (ITU) regulations. The FCC noted, however, that some foreign countries have prohibited this offering within their territories. It reaffirmed its view, as a matter of international comity, that U.S. call-back operators are not authorized to provide uncompleted call signaling in those countries whose laws explicitly prohibit this offering. Accordingly, the Commission stated that it would take enforcement action against U.S. call-back providers which violate such a foreign prohibition when the foreign government itself has been unable to ensure compliance. It also will use its enforcement authority to identify and sanction those resellers, including call-back providers, which are operating without proper FCC authorizations.

The Department of State will communicate the FCC findings to foreign governments. Any foreign government which has expressly adopted a statute or regulation finding international call-back using uncompleted call signaling to be unlawful, and which has been unable to enforce its domestic law or regulation against U.S. providers of this offering, may so notify the U.S. Government. Notifications should include specific documentation of legal restrictions on international call-back, evidence of violations by particular U.S. carriers, and a description of enforcement measures. In addition, any foreign government which seeks to put U.S. carriers on notice that international call-back utilizing uncompleted call signaling is illegal in its territory also may convey to the Commission documentation of its specific statutory or regulatory measure. The Commission will maintain a file of all such communications for reference and appropriate action.

The FCC order does not address the legality of call-back methods other than uncompleted call signaling, since they were not the subject of AT&T's request for reconsideration. The order notes, however, that several foreign carriers commented that the "hot line" (or "polling") method of providing call-back causes network degradation. The Commission emphasized that such uses of the network which degrade network performance or impair service offerings would violate the tariffs of U.S. facilities-based carriers, and that these carriers do take measures to stop such practices.

Action by the Commission June 13, 1995, by Order (FCC 95-224). Chairman Hundt, Commissioners Quello, Barrett, Ness and Chong. - FCC -

On June 15, 1995, the Federal Communications Commission issued an order which confirmed that call-back service using uncompleted call signaling violates neither U.S. domestic nor international law (10 FCC Rcd 9540 (1995). The order provided, however, that U.S. call-back providers are not authorized to provide service to customers in countries which expressly have declared the service to be illegal. To facilitate U.S. carrier compliance with this provision, the Commission stated that it would be prepared to receive documentation from any government which seeks to put U.S. carriers on notice that call-back service using uncompleted call signaling has been declared expressly illegal in its territory.

The International Bureau maintains a public information file for such submissions. This public file is designated as "International Call-Back: Foreign Law," and is located in the International Bureau's public reference room, at 2000 M Street, N.W., Room 102, Washington, D.C. 20554. The public file and list of countries are for informational purposes only. Inclusion in the public file does not constitute Commission judgment on the issue of whether a submission by a foreign government would be valid evidence of illegality in a Commission proceeding. The public file contains information on the legal status of call-back service for the following countries:
China, Colombia, Honduras, Indonesia, Netherlands Antilles, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, Venezuela.

Copies of the information may be obtained from the Commission's contractor for public service records duplication: ITS, Inc. 2100 M Street, N.W., Suite 140, Washington, D.C. 20037, (202) 857-3800.

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