A small move, but another step in the direction of growing penetration of VoIP: the US FCC is making it easier and cheaper
for VoIP providers to
get 10-digit phone numbers – "another federal boost for the mushrooming
broadband phone industry". Money quotes:
In essence, the Federal Communications Commission gave SBC
permission to get telephone numbers directly from their official
source–a privately run, quasi-government agency known as the North American Numbering Plan Administration. It’s a much cheaper alternative.
Before the FCC’s action,
only those Net phone providers certified by states could approach the
agency directly. The SBC division selling Net phone services argued
that it wasn’t fair; the calls actually use the Internet and are
therefore off-limits to any regulation. Also, requiring certification
multiplies the already onerous amount of expensive state and federal
telephone regulation.
"The waiver is in the public interest," FCC commissioners wrote in a
decision released this week. "It will help expedite the implementation
of (Internet-enabled) services."
Other Internet phone providers are sure to win such an exemption,
the FCC notes in its 27-page order. The rules exemption for SBC is in
effect for another few months, as commissioners finish drafting rules for Net phone providers.
With its decision, the FCC continues to demonstrate a hands-off approach toward voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)–software that lets a broadband connection double as a phone line.