The Register® — Biting the hand that feeds IT

Feeds

FCC strikes against VoIP blocking

Powell wants to be VoIP enforcer

  • print
  • alert

Agentless Backup is Not a Myth

Federal Communications Commission chairman Michael Powell backed enforcement action to protect VoIP traffic as the agency yesterday announced a settlement with a carrier that blocked internet users’ voice calls.

Local telco Madison River LLC has pledged to refrain from blocking VoIP calls over its network and ensure that such blocking “will not recur”. It will also pay $15,000 to the US treasury as part of the settlement.

The FCC chief has struck an anti regulation stance during his tenure. In a statement yesterday, he backed an “enforcement context” to preserve “net freedom”. He claimed this would “ensure hypothetical worriers (sic) give way to concrete facts and — as we have shown today — real solutions.”

The burgeoning VoIP industry may take some comfort from Powell’s pledge to use the FCC’s enforcement unit to chase down VoIP blockers. Longer term though, they might prefer a blanket prohibition to case by case action.

Related stories

FCC investigates VoIP squashers
FCC Chairman Michael Powell resigns
Appeals court tells state to keep hands off VoIP
No state regs, taxes for VoIP, FCC says

Customer Success Testimonial: Recovery is Everything

More from The Register

 breaking news
BBC-featured call centre slapped with hefty fine for unwanted calls
PPI pests: Swansea-based firm stung for £225k by ICO
Microsoft to open Windows Stores inside 600 Best Buy locations
Product showcases 'must be seen to be believed'
 breaking news
What did the Lehman Brothers implosion look like to a techie?
Insider tells all about the Gnab Gib at Lehmans
 breaking news
The only Waze is Google: Ad giant tipped to gobble map app 'for $1.3bn'
Pac-Man-satnav-ish upstart in bidding war with Apple, Facebook
 breaking news
1-in-10 e-tomes 'are self-published'... most are 'rubbish' says book ed
Publishing man scoffs at go-it-alone writers, ursines still fouling in forests
 breaking news
Facebook RSS reader said to uncloak June 20
Secret event scooped by Scottish developer?
 breaking news
O2 averts strike action over mass Capita outsourcing deal
Details of new agreement not yet released