FCC LICENSED CARRIER ·499 FILER ·STIR/SHAKEN CERTIFIED
SIPNEX
FCC Licensing

FCC-licensed carrier. Verifiable credentials.

SIPNEX is an FCC licensed telecommunications carrier. Not a reseller. Not a platform riding on someone else's license. Every credential on this page sits in a public federal database — including our own STIR/SHAKEN SP certificate and active Robocall Mitigation Database filing. We publish them because we hold them.

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What is an FCC-licensed carrier?

An FCC licensed carrier — also written FCC-licensed carrier — is a telecommunications company that holds direct authorization from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to provide voice service on the US telephone network. Licensed carriers file FCC Form 499. They register in the Robocall Mitigation Database. They can also hold their own STIR/SHAKEN certificate and sign calls at A-level attestation.

FCC licensing rules differ by service type. The Commission issues everything from radio and operator licenses to full carrier grants. The legal framework comes from the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996. For voice carriers, the FCC requires Form 499 registration, a Robocall Mitigation Database filing, and public-safety duties such as 911 access.

What is Section 214 authority?

Section 214 of the Communications Act of 1934 is the law that governs who may run transmission lines for the public. Under FCC rules (47 CFR Part 63), domestic carriers hold blanket Section 214 authority. They can serve any US point without asking case by case. The duty runs the other way too. A carrier must notify its customers and file with the FCC before it ends, reduces, or impairs a service.

International service works differently. A carrier that hauls calls between the US and a foreign point needs its own international Section 214 authorization, granted by formal application to the FCC. The whole framework sits in Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations. It is the backbone of what "carrier authorization" means in US telecom law.

Our credentials.

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FCC Telecommunications Carrier Authorization

Licensed voice service provider on the US telephone network. Direct authorization — not resale under another carrier's license.

Verify: FCC public carrier records
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FCC Form 499 Filer

Registered Universal Service Fund contributor. Annual revenue reporting to USAC. Identifies SIPNEX as a contributing telecommunications carrier.

Verify: On file with USAC
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STIR/SHAKEN SP-KI Certificate

Own Service Provider Key Identifier certificate. Signs outbound calls directly with our private key. A-level attestation for all verified DIDs.

Verify: STI-GA certificate registry
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Robocall Mitigation Database

Active filing with complete STIR/SHAKEN implementation. Traffic accepted by downstream carriers.

Verify: fccprod.servicenowservices.com/rmd
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Registered RespOrg

Authorized to manage toll-free number routing in the SMS/800 database. Direct provisioning without intermediaries.

Verify: Somos RespOrg registry

How to verify an FCC licensed carrier

Look the company up in the FCC's Form 499 Filer Database at apps.fcc.gov/cgb/form499. Then search the Robocall Mitigation Database. A real carrier appears in those records under its own name. A reseller does not, because its upstream carrier holds the filings. Two databases, two searches, five minutes.

FCC filings a licensed voice carrier maintains.

Carrier licensing is not one form. It is a calendar of duties that repeats every year. Dates shift to the next business day when they land on a weekend or holiday.

FILINGWHAT IT COVERSWHEN
Form 499-AAnnual USF revenue report to USACApril 1
Form 499-QQuarterly USF revenue reportFeb 1, May 1, Aug 1, Nov 1
CPNI certificationCustomer-data compliance certificateMarch 1
Form 502 (NRUF)Number-utilization and forecast reportFeb 1 and Aug 1
Robocall Mitigation DatabaseRobocall plan and STIR/SHAKEN statusKept current
Regulatory feesAnnual payment under the FCC fee orderSet each year by FCC order

Not every FCC license is a carrier license.

The FCC issues many license types, and most have nothing to do with phone service. A spectrum license grants exclusive use of radio frequencies. A commercial operator license, such as the General Radiotelephone Operator License (GROL), certifies a person who services radio gear. A carrier authorization is the third kind. It lets a company carry voice traffic on the public phone network. When someone says "FCC licensed carrier," this is the license they mean.

LICENSE TYPEWHO HOLDS ITWHERE IT'S RECORDED
Spectrum / radio station licenseBroadcasters, wireless operatorsUniversal Licensing System (ULS)
Commercial operator license (GROL)Radio equipment techniciansUniversal Licensing System (ULS)
Carrier authorizationVoice carriers like SIPNEXForm 499 + Robocall Mitigation databases

Licensed carrier vs reseller.

LICENSED CARRIERRESELLER
FCC authorizationHolds own licenseOperates under upstream's license
Form 499 filingFiles directly with USACDoes not file
STIR/SHAKEN certificateHolds own SP-KIInherits from upstream
Attestation levelA-level (direct verification)B-level (upstream signs)
RMD filingOwn filing requiredDepends on upstream
Network controlControls routing, provisioning, qualityDepends on upstream
Provisioning speedDirect — hoursRequests from upstream — days
Support accountabilityOwns the infrastructureOpens tickets with upstream

Frequently asked questions.

Is SIPNEX an FCC-licensed carrier?
Yes. SIPNEX holds an FCC telecommunications carrier license. We are a licensed voice provider on the US phone network. We are not a reseller. We are not a platform riding on someone else's license. You can check our active filing in the FCC's Robocall Mitigation Database.
What is FCC Form 499?
FCC Form 499 is the annual filing that carriers submit to the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). It reports the revenue used to set Universal Service Fund (USF) payments. Filing Form 499 marks a company as a USF contributor. The USF funds rural telecom, schools, libraries, and low-income phone service. SIPNEX files Form 499 as a registered USF contributor.
Why does carrier licensing matter for my calls?
Three reasons. First, a licensed carrier holds its own STIR/SHAKEN certificate and signs calls at A-level. Resellers inherit B-level from their upstream carrier. Second, a licensed carrier files in the Robocall Mitigation Database, so downstream carriers accept its traffic. Third, a licensed carrier runs its own network. Speed, routing, and support do not depend on an upstream provider.
How can I verify SIPNEX's FCC credentials?
Start with the FCC's public records. Form 499 filings are on record with USAC. Our STIR/SHAKEN certificate is tracked by the STI-GA (Secure Telephone Identity Governance Authority). Our RMD filing is searchable at fccprod.servicenowservices.com/rmd. Every credential is public. You can check each one yourself.
What is the difference between a carrier and a reseller?
A carrier holds its own FCC license and files Form 499. It runs its own network or holds direct interconnection deals. It can hold its own STIR/SHAKEN certificate and sign calls itself. A reseller buys service from a carrier and resells it. The reseller holds no FCC license, does not file 499, and cannot sign STIR/SHAKEN on its own. Its calls get B-level attestation because the upstream carrier signs them.
Do I need to verify my carrier's licensing?
If you care about STIR/SHAKEN attestation, call completion, and FCC rules for voice providers, yes. An unlicensed provider may not appear in the RMD, so downstream carriers can block its traffic. It cannot hold its own STIR/SHAKEN certificate, so your calls get B-level attestation. It may also lack the standing to fix issues with other carriers for you. Ask two questions: 'Do you hold your own FCC carrier license?' and 'Do you hold your own STIR/SHAKEN SP certificate?'
What credentials does SIPNEX hold?
FCC Telecommunications Carrier Authorization, FCC Form 499 Filer (USF contributor), STIR/SHAKEN Service Provider Certificate (own SP-KI — signs calls directly), Robocall Mitigation Database registration (active filing, complete STIR/SHAKEN implementation), and Registered RespOrg (toll-free number management). All are public. You can check each one in a federal database.
Can a VoIP provider operate without an FCC license?
VoIP providers come in several forms. Some are licensed carriers. Some are enhanced service providers. Some are resellers operating under another carrier's license. The difference shows up in three areas. Only licensed carriers with SP-KI certificates sign calls at A-level. RMD filing duties vary by provider type. And licensed carriers answer directly to the FCC. If you need A-level attestation and carrier-grade service, choose a licensed carrier.
How do I verify that a carrier is FCC licensed?
Check the FCC's public records. A licensed carrier appears in the FCC Form 499 Filer Database and in the Robocall Mitigation Database. A reseller's name will be missing from those records. Its upstream carrier holds the licenses instead. SIPNEX holds direct FCC authorization and signs calls with its own STIR/SHAKEN certificate.
What is Section 214 authority?
Section 214 of the Communications Act of 1934 governs who may run transmission lines for the public. Domestic carriers hold blanket Section 214 authority under FCC rules (47 CFR Part 63). They can serve any US point without a case-by-case grant. But they must notify customers and file with the FCC before ending or reducing a service. International traffic is different. Carrying calls between the US and another country requires its own international Section 214 authorization.
Is an FCC radio license the same as a carrier authorization?
No. A radio license grants the right to use radio spectrum. It lives in the FCC's Universal Licensing System (ULS). A commercial operator license, such as the GROL, certifies a technician who services radio gear. A carrier authorization is different. It lets a company provide voice service on the public phone network. It shows up in the Form 499 Filer Database and the Robocall Mitigation Database — the records where an FCC licensed carrier appears.

Verifiable credentials. Direct carrier service.

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