By Roy Mark
Internet telephony firms praised Thursday's action by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to fine a small telecom for blocking Voice over Internet Protocol (define) traffic, but said problems of keeping broadband networks open to all IP applications remain.
Over the last six months, both consumer VoIP provider Vonage and wholesaler Nuvio complained to the FCC about both telecom and cable broadband providers either blocking or degrading VoIP calls. In some cases, the providers offer their own VoIP service and in Vonage's and Nuvio's opinion are discriminating against unaffiliated VoIP companies.
Thursday, Madison River Communications of Mebane, N.C., which owns and operates four rural telephone companies in Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and Illinois, admitted no guilt in port blocking complaints brought by Vonage, but agreed to a $15, 000 fine and promised to drop the practice.
Chris Murray, Vonage's director of government affairs, said in Madison River's case, one of the company's subsidiaries was blocking VoIP calls to and from a customer who chose to get VoIP service instead of leasing a second, hard-wired telephone line.
"They gave no notice [to the customer]. [His Vonage service] had been working and one day he woke up and it didn't work," Murray said.
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