Reasserting its early stand towards rural connectivity, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has ruled that local carriers should not be bared from connecting VoIP calls.
In its 16-page ruling on Time Warner Cable suit, FCC said that incumbent local exchange carriers must connect Web-based phone calls routed over broadband lines operated by wholesalers like Sprint Nextel and Verizon Communications.
Last year, Time Warner Cable filed a case in the FCC against the Nebraska and South Carolina regulators, who tried to bar Verizon-Time Warner duo providing VoIP services to local landlines.
Kevin J. Martin, FCC chairman said in a statement,
By increasing competition in the telephone sector, this action encourages the deployment of broadband facilities and ensures that consumers in all areas of the country reap the benefits of competition in the form of lower prices, innovative services and more choice,.
FCC hopes the ruling will pave the way for rural connectivity and speed up adoption of VoIP technology in the rural areas of USA.
