January 21, 2005

PCWorld.com - Congress to Focus on Telecom Reform

This should be the widely held position among lawmakers. Whether it will prevail remains to be seen. 911 service in the VoIP world requires strong guidance and will be a major sticking point in reform legislation. State regulation of Internet services should be de minimus because state regulators have little value to add in an IP world. Any consumer protection issues can be handled by states' attorneys general.

The really serious question will be how wireline carriers will be able to mix and match traditional circuit-switched wireline and IP facilities and services.

"The United States Telecom Association , representing facilities-based carriers including the incumbent Bells, argues that rules requiring the incumbents to share their networks aren't needed anymore, because consumers have a variety of choices, including VoIP and competing carriers that purchase access from wireline wholesalers.

"We advocate that where there's competition, there's no need for economic regulation," said Allison Remsen, spokeswoman for USTA. "There's plenty of competition out there."

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