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I'm just trying to work this out

Someone from Kansas rings someone in Russia. Rostelecom claim this breaks Russian law (say Rostelecom claims they discussed a gay pride event or whatever). Sprint and Rostelecom have a contract which means that Sprint have to pay $1 million because Rostelecom claim something bad has happened. Sprint cut off the PITA customer in the states as it's cheaper that way.

Why would Sprint sign that contract?

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Because otherwise Rostelecom won't peer with them.

Why would I peer with a company that promises unlimited liability governed under foreign law? It wouldn't be good enough to have expertise of the law of 190 countries on staff, there's all the smaller jurisdictions that can come into play. Will I be bound by a local bylaw in oregon county misouri?

Because your customers would like to call customers of that company.

If they would not, you have no reason to peer with them. If their laws are too arduous to comply with, they would simply be disconnected from the phone network.

> Will I be bound by a local bylaw in oregon county misouri?

That depends on whether Oregon County, Missouri has the "cell carriers are liable for spam calls" rule. If it's just a federal law like the current ones, no.

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