Iowa Code » Chapter 476 — PUBLIC UTILITY REGULATION
Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 476.95 (2026)

Internet protocol-enabled service and voice over internet protocol service — regulation

✓ Iowa Code 2026 (laws through the 2025 session)
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1. For purposes of this section:

a. “Internet protocol-enabled service” means any service, capability, functionality, or application that uses internet protocol or any successor protocol and enables an end user to send or receive voice, data, or video communications in internet protocol format or a successor format.

b. “Political subdivision” means the same as defined in section 145A.2.

c. “Voice over internet protocol service” means an internet protocol-enabled service that facilitates real-time, two-way voice communication that originates from, or terminates at, a user’s location and permits the user to receive a call that originates from the public switched telephone network and to terminate a call on the public switched telephone network.

2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a department, agency, board, or political subdivision of the state shall not regulate, by rule, order, or other means directly or indirectly, the entry, rates, terms, or conditions for internet protocol-enabled service or voice over internet protocol service.

3. This section shall not be construed to affect, modify, limit, or expand any of the following:

a. The authority of the attorney general to take any action pursuant to chapter 537 or section 714.16.

b. The application or enforcement of any law that is intended to have general application to the conduct of business in this state.

c. Any entity’s obligation under section 251 or 252 of the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996.

d. Any authority of the commission over wholesale telecommunications services, rates, agreements, interconnection, providers, or tariffs.

e. Any authority of the commission to address or affect the resolution of a dispute regarding intercarrier compensation.

f. Any authority of the commission, in accordance with state and federal law, to assess voice over internet protocol service for any of the following:

(1) Surcharges for 911 emergency services under section 34A.7.

(2) Assessments for dual party relay service under section 477C.7.

(3) Direct costs under section 476.10 and a share of remainder assessments that reflect the service’s lesser degree of regulation.

g. Any authority of the commission to regulate internet protocol-enabled service or voice over internet protocol service pursuant to section 476.91. 95 Acts, ch 199, §6; 2018 Acts, ch 1160, §17; 2024 Acts, ch 1170, §369 Referred to in §476.1B\n\n 476.95A Annual registration for telecommunications service providers.

1. A provider of telecommunications service, as defined in section 476.103, offering\n\nTue Dec 09 22:08:33 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 476 (110, 2) 55 PUBLIC UTILITY REGULATION, §476.100\n\ntelephone numbers to retail customers in this state shall register annually with the commission.

2. An applicant shall complete an application for registration on a form provided by the commission. The form shall include contact information, the approximate number of service lines provided in the state, and any other information deemed necessary by the commission.

3. Within five business days of the receipt of a completed application for registration, the commission shall issue a nonexclusive acknowledgment of compliance with this section. The acknowledgment shall authorize the registrant to obtain telephone numbers, interconnect with other telecommunications service providers, cross railroad rights-of-way pursuant to section 476.27, and provide telecommunications service in this state. An acknowledgment may be transferred by filing a new or updated registration form.

4. A registrant shall submit to the commission corrections to the information supplied in the registration form within a reasonable time after a change in circumstances, which circumstances would be required to be reported in an application for registration form.

5. Refusal to file and maintain an annual registration pursuant to this section is a violation of this chapter and may subject a telecommunications service provider to a civil penalty pursuant to section 476.51.

6. Notwithstanding this subsection, the commission shall continue to recognize the validity of, and the rights conferred upon, a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued to a telecommunications service provider by the commission prior to July 1, 2018. 2018 Acts, ch 1160, §18; 2024 Acts, ch 1170, §369 Referred to in §476.1B, 476.6, 476.9, 476.10, 476.20, 476.54 \n

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 3 cases, 2003–2013 · leading case: Qwest Corp. v. Iowa State Bd. of Tax Review, 829 N.W.2d 550 (Iowa 2013).
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Qwest Corp. v. Iowa State Bd. of Tax Review, 829 N.W.2d 550 (Iowa 2013). · cites it 3× “Iowa Code § 476.95 . Thus, the legislature’s stated purposes for the act can be interpreted as enhancing the availability of affordable communication services throughout the state, encouraging competition for all telecommunication services, and fostering economic development.”
Off. of Consum. Advocate v. Iowa Utils. Bd., 663 N.W.2d 873 (Iowa 2003). · cites it 2× “” Iowa Code § 476.95 (3) (1997). The legislature regarded the board’s expertise as critical to effective management of this area; the board was to “respond with speed and flexibility to changes in the communications industry.”
McLeodusa Telecomm. Servs., Inc. v. Iowa Utils. Bd., 550 F. Supp. 2d 1006 (S.D. Iowa 2008). “Finally, the OCA argues that the IUB erred by failing to consider the effects of its decision on competition in the telecommunications market, as required by Iowa Code § 476.95 (2), and that the interests of competition favor a finding that Qwest is unlawfully discriminating…”
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