CRTC issues preliminary view on VoIP
Jeff Pulver made a mention of the CRTC’s notice about Voice over IP. While I don’t have much of the background on telecommunications law, the CRTC is saying that they feel VoIP carriers should be subjected to the same regulations that the Bellheads follow.
My layman’s view of this is that it’s a bad idea. Many of these laws came in to place to compensate for the years of monopolies the ILECs had, and are to help increase competition. If competition, and more specifically, the consumer, are on the CRTC’s mind, it would seem to me the best approach would be to let the VoIP carriers be free from the bonds of regulation.
I’ll be researching this more closely, and hopefully understand enough to make a submission to the CRTC by the April 28′th deadline. I encourage any Canadians reading this to do the same.
Sean, I find myself agreeing with you on this. First, the VoIP is a global option, and only needs a (preferably broadband) connection, whereas a landline through a traditional phone company relies entirely on the company with the line to your home. The ISP’s have solved this part for the VoIP services. I use Firefly, and excellent service which is free currently, and I can only imagine the costs if they hasd to go through the regulatory hoops for each country they accept calls to and from. The Bell’s(not to mention the MTS’s, Telus’ and others) had long held monopolies that allowed them to build networks which they still use to monopolize access to customers. The VoIP have no such ability nor apparent desire.
April 7th, 2004 at 11:07 pmAs I think more about it, one huge reason these regulations were needed to enforce competition was because of the barrier-to-entry there was in the telecom market because of the cost of building a cable plant and other switching gear. In the VoIP model, there is little needed to set up — the barrier just isn’t there.
Just a minor quibble, though. Bell, MTS, SaskTel, and Atlantis are the incumbents (ILECs), and had the monopoly. Telus and Allstream are among the competitors (CLECs) (though Telus has the market fairly wrapped up in the West). These rules were designed to help the CLECs compete in the old world TDM style model, and foster increased efficiencies in the ILECs. I just don’t think it applies to the new world, where, as you said, someone else has already solved the access problem.
Sean
April 8th, 2004 at 6:50 amI stand corrected, Telus *is* an ILEC. After talking with our telecom guy here (a former MTS employee), I realize just how convoluted the system is.
April 8th, 2004 at 8:26 amAs a Vonage customer, I’d also like to not see this happen. There is a lot of differences and regulations need to be re-examined. I hope it turns out more like sales tax on the Internet.
April 8th, 2004 at 9:02 pmMy analysis may be of interest to you as you research this topic: http://www.mocaedu.com/mt/archives/000048.html
April 10th, 2004 at 12:01 pm