# FCC Carrier / ISP Registration

Start your telecom carrier or ISP from scratch. We handle all federal and state registrations based on the services you plan to offer.

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## What services will you offer?

Tell us what you plan to do and we'll determine exactly which registrations you need.

What type of service will you offer?

Select all that apply.

Voice / phone service Interconnected VoIP, CLEC, IXC, or traditional telephony Broadband internet service ISP, fiber, fixed wireless, cable
Other service types? If you plan to offer non-interconnected VoIP (voice apps without phone numbers, like Microsoft Teams or Discord), satellite, paging, private radio, or other specialized services, contact us for a custom assessment — registration requirements vary significantly for these services.

Who are your customers?

This affects which FCC filings are required. If your voice and broadband customers are different, select the option that covers both.

How will you deliver voice service?

Will you need any of these?

Check all that apply. These determine whether you need your own OCN and STIR/SHAKEN certificate.

Least-cost routing (LCR) Route across multiple wholesale providers Your own phone numbers (DID blocks) From number providers like Bandwidth, Inteliquent Direct carrier interconnection SIP trunking you sell to other carriers Sign outbound calls with your own identity STIR/SHAKEN certificate — required if you originate calls
Do you need a STIR/SHAKEN certificate?
Only if you originate calls (place them onto the network). As of June 2025, originating providers must sign all calls with their own certificate — they can no longer rely on upstream providers to sign on their behalf.
If you only receive and terminate pre-signed calls from other carriers, you don't need a signing certificate. You'll verify incoming signatures (a software configuration, not a certificate purchase) and file your RMD as "partial implementation."
Why do wholesale voice vendors require an OCN?
An Operating Company Number identifies your company in the telecom numbering system. Major voice providers like Bandwidth, Telnyx, Lumen, and Peerless require it to open a wholesale account, port numbers, and assign DID blocks. Without an OCN, you're limited to reseller-tier access.

How will you provide internet service?

Based on your description, you may not need FCC carrier registration. Cloud and SaaS services are generally not regulated as telecommunications. Contact us for a free assessment.

Where will your end-user customers be located?

Retail telecom providers must register with the state PUC in each state where they serve customers. State PUC registration is triggered by customer location — your service terminates in their state using local infrastructure, creating regulatory nexus regardless of where you're incorporated.

State PUC Registration
About 27 states require full certification and tariff filing (CA, NY, PA, FL, IL, etc.), ~9 require registration only, and a handful (TX, UT, VA, WY) have minimal requirements. You don't need to register in all 50 states on day one — start with the states where you'll have customers, then expand as you grow. We handle state PUC filings at $399/state.

Where will your carrier customers be located?

Wholesale carriers generally don't need state PUC registration — the retail carrier serving end users holds the state obligation, not you. Your FCC registrations (CORES, Form 499, RMD) cover you at the federal level.

Will you offer international services?

Calls to/from other countries, international data transit, or serving customers outside the US.

International Section 214 Authorization
The FCC requires a separate International Section 214 license to provide telecommunications services between the US and foreign points. This applies to international voice termination, international toll-free, global SIP trunking, and international data transit. Domestic-only carriers do not need this.
Expand into Canada?

If you plan to terminate voice traffic to Canada, sell services to Canadian customers, or operate infrastructure in Canada, you need a CRTC registration (Canada's FCC equivalent). Canadian carriers get direct access to Canadian DIDs, local number portability, and CRTC interconnection — often at lower termination rates than routing through a US-based international gateway.

Our Canada CRTC package includes BC incorporation, CRTC telecom registration, and a .ca domain — everything you need to operate as a licensed Canadian carrier.

Learn More — Canada CRTC ($3,899) →

## Your Registration Package

Based on your answers, here's what you need. You can add or remove services.

Included in your $1,299 package

Optional add-ons (additional cost)

$1,299
Base registration package

## Your Business Entity

We'll file registrations under this entity. You can use an existing one or we'll form a new one.

Search by FRN or company name
Legal Name EIN / TIN State of Formation

Where do you live / primary office?

Do you have employees or a physical office there?

Expected first-year size?

Formation State
Entity Type
Entity Name (leave blank for numbered)

## Contact & Officer Information

This information is used on all FCC filings and state registrations.

Contact Name * Contact Email * Contact Phone * Title Business Address *

## Review & Checkout

I authorize Performance West Inc. to prepare and submit regulatory filings on my behalf as described above. I understand Performance West provides compliance consulting services, not legal advice or legal representation. I confirm the information I provide is accurate to the best of my knowledge. Terms of Service
Payment Method
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