Kevin Werback, who was at the FCC’s VoIP Forum, points out that Qwest CEO Dick Notebaert supports treating voice over IP as a largely unregulated “information service” in a Washington Times op-ed.
“Qwest is unique among the incumbent local phone giants, since it has a large Internet backbone and business services operation. Still, it’s good to see a telco CEO reject applying legacy regulation to VOIP”.“The one point Notebaert’s op-ed doesn’t squarely address is whether VOIP should be subject to the inflated “access charges” that companies like Qwest charge to originate or terminate telephone traffic. The implication of classing VOIP as an information service is that access charges should not apply, and that’s the right result”.
The four regional telephone companies, Verizon, SBC, Qwest and BellSouth, want to shake the obligation of sharing their older voice infrastructure as mandated under the 1996 act. Verizon cites a study that said “lifting all remaining regulations on broadband would have an immediate impact on the economy by accelerating job and income growth.”
Their competitors, meanwhile, don’t want to be shut out of the Bells’ infrastructure.
Qwest has a satellite connection for television and could use 802.16a for “wireless DSL”.
The last thing they want to do is share it. It will be tricky trying to kill-off cable all the while promoting “competition”. Qwest wireless, in 802.16e/802.20 flavors, may most likely be a walled prison of service tiers. Can you say Comcast, (aka AT&T Broadband, aka Excite@home)?
I’ve got nothing against large companies. It’s duopolies I hate. The wireless “broadband economy” could go right down the tube if real competitors are shut out.
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