FCC further deregulates Net calls

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Flawed argument

"If the Bells didn't exist, your internet provider could charge you anything they wanted for phone service" - Incorrect since competition does exist for alternate VoIP providers. Competition = good for the consumer.

"Imagine going to Target and buying an 'AOL' enhanced phone to get optimal reception in their proprietary format. Then wanting to switch for price only to find your phone doesn't work with 'Earthlink' formats" - While theoretically possible, this is not how VoIP works, and I believe that any company that tried to lock in consumers would receive a consumer backlash. Also, the biggest VoIP providers do not have internet services as their primary alternate business. It is however possible that you may buy a router with integrated VoIP that is dedicated to a single vendor, then you may encounter switchover problems. You could still get around this though by using the new provider's non-integrated phone adaptor in front of the router, or attempting to update the router's programming.

"Then, there is the problem of managing phone numbers. Imagine if your number on the AOL system is someone else's number of the Earthlink system" - Have you studied up on VoIP? This is not how it works. Anyone who tried a proprietary numbering scheme would quickly lose customers to the competitors who do not.

"some people just might not have good phone service. Without regulation, the Bells would die and those people out in the "boonies" would be required to use cell phones for all communication" - This one is valid, although you left out that some remote areas not only don't have broadband, they also lack cell phone service. Those consumers would just be SOL if the phone companies shut down operations. Although, I suspect the local governments would cobble together something, it likely would be mediocre at best.

Posted by: ac2_z   Posted on: 11/09/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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