Rural Lawmakers Urge Google Voice Probe
Twenty members of the House who represent rural communities have requested the FCC open a formal investigation into the nature and function of Google's Internet telephony service known as Google Voice. In a Wednesday letter to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, the lawmakers said they are concerned with Google's assertion that it is not offering a "traditional" telephone service -- despite its use of 10-digit numbers and its ability to connect calls over a local exchange carrier -- and therefore should not be treated as a common carrier service like AT&T and Verizon.
Google "should not be able to evade compliance with important principles of access and competition set forth by the FCC by simply self-declaring it is not subject to them," they wrote. "If Google is allowed to operate its telephone service outside the rules by which all other common carriers operate, we worry that the market and support for universal service will be undermined." Rural consumers, whose calls would only be selectively connected, would be most harmed, they argued. The letter was signed by Reps. Steve Buyer, R-Ind.; Charlie Melancon, D-La.; John Shimkus, R-Ill.; John Barrow, D-Ga., and others.
AT&T last month asked the FCC to force Google to play by the same rules as its competitors on the heels of reports that the Internet giant blocked calls to rural areas for users of its Google Voice service and, as a result, is reducing its access expenses. Google defended itself on its blog saying that the company's goal is to provide consumers with free or low-cost access to as many advanced communications features as possible. To do that, Google Voice restricts certain outbound calls from its Web platform to high-priced destinations.
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