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CWA: FCC Should Support Universal Service Rules for VoIP, Other New Communications Technologies
Washington, D.C. -- The Communications Workers of America called on the Federal Communications Commission to safeguard the public interest as it sets the rules for the next-generation of communications – Internet based communications -- in the United States, particularly voice communication over the Internet (VoIP).
The FCC's starting point simply must be this: that VoIP is a telecommunications service and therefore subject to the same regulations that govern other telecommunications services providers – including universal service support, emergency and public safety access, consumer protections and disability access, CWA said in a filing.
"Over the next decades, our basic communications infrastructure will transition from today's public switched network designed primarily for voice telephone calls to the Internet. This opens exciting new opportunities" in communications, CWA said, including the delivery of such social and public services as health care, education, and job training; creating economic opportunity and jobs; increasing participation in the political process and expanding opportunity for people with disabilities, and more.
The current network of universal, affordable, high-quality telephone service – which reaches nearly every household and business in the United States – ensured that all Americans would have access to service through policies and regulation that served the public interest, CWA said.
Now, as we move into the next generation of communications, it is more important than ever to maintain this commitment to universal service, if the full benefits of Internet-enabled services are to be available to all, the filing continued.
Because VoIP services are highly competitive, there is no need for the FCC to impose rate regulation or other unnecessary regulations at this time, CWA said. However, a role for state regulatory commissions, in partnership with the FCC, should continue, the union added.
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The full filing is available at ga.cwa-union.org.
The FCC's starting point simply must be this: that VoIP is a telecommunications service and therefore subject to the same regulations that govern other telecommunications services providers – including universal service support, emergency and public safety access, consumer protections and disability access, CWA said in a filing.
"Over the next decades, our basic communications infrastructure will transition from today's public switched network designed primarily for voice telephone calls to the Internet. This opens exciting new opportunities" in communications, CWA said, including the delivery of such social and public services as health care, education, and job training; creating economic opportunity and jobs; increasing participation in the political process and expanding opportunity for people with disabilities, and more.
The current network of universal, affordable, high-quality telephone service – which reaches nearly every household and business in the United States – ensured that all Americans would have access to service through policies and regulation that served the public interest, CWA said.
Now, as we move into the next generation of communications, it is more important than ever to maintain this commitment to universal service, if the full benefits of Internet-enabled services are to be available to all, the filing continued.
Because VoIP services are highly competitive, there is no need for the FCC to impose rate regulation or other unnecessary regulations at this time, CWA said. However, a role for state regulatory commissions, in partnership with the FCC, should continue, the union added.
###
The full filing is available at ga.cwa-union.org.