VOIP Regulation
Good roundup over at the Knowlege Problem on regulation of Voice over IP (VOIP - basically telephone calls over broadband Internet).
The Federal Communications Commission declared today that a type of Internet telephony service offered by Vonage Holdings Corp. called DigitalVoice is not subject to traditional state public utility regulation.
The Commission also stated that other types of IP-enabled services, such as those offered by cable companies, that have basic characteristics similar to DigitalVoice would also not be subject to traditional state public utility regulation.
This may be good news. If it keeps regulation low and lets this new technology continue to innovate and find its way in the market, great. If it is just two bullies snarling over who gets to take my lunch money, then its not-so-good news.
