VoIP's vulnerability
It's Friday, and while you may be thinking about a weekend of sun, you may want to turn your attention to Capitol Hill one last time this work week before heading off to grab that poolside margarita. Most consumers usually don't care about Capitol Hill votes until it hits them in the pocket. With that in mind, Jeff Pulver says now is the time to care:
"The Amendment, offered up by Rep Gutknecht would serve to Boost Charges on Internet Communications. The Amendment would do the following:
1) reverses the landmark Vonage decision asserting exclusive federal jurisdiction over VoIP and subjecting VoIP to a potential patchwork of conflicting 50 state regulatory frameworks,
2) would raise rates on VoIP service by requiring the FCC to apply the broken access charge regime to VoIP, and
3) gives the FCC the green light to apply their current USF proposal that would require VoIP to pay into USF at more than double the current wireless safe harbor."
What's it all mean? Pulver suggest that the amendment, among other things, could:
"Eliminate the flat-rate VoIP plans that are so popular with constituents, by applying per-minute access charges."
Pulver also believes with the increased government regulation:
"Consumers could miss out on the new services, competition, and lower prices that VoIP can deliver."
We all know that saving money is only one of the many draws of VoIP, but that reduction in cost has made it easier for people to communicate internationally as well as here at home. To learn more about all of the issues the amendment raises and what you can do about it, please check out The Jeff Pulver Blog. To learn more about Gutknecht's take on other VoIP issues of the day, read the Winona Daily News.
All right, have a good weekend and enjoy the poolside.