LECs Again Ask for Sole Federal Oversight of IP Services

Large incumbents once again are asking policymakers to restrict oversight of IP services to the federal level. Such a move would strip states of any authority to regulate VoIP companies, for example.

That’s a problem for groups such as the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA), which is asking Congress to oppose the LECs’ request.

Tom Wacker, NTCA’s vice president of government affairs, explains the organization’s logic in a Dec. 18 letter. I’m paraphrasing but he’s saying it’s too early to say that allowing both state and federal regulation is too chaotic for providers to handle. One reason it’s too soon, he said, is because the FCC has yet to unveil the full scope of its national broadband policy, due to Congress no later than Feb. 17, 2010.

Wacker made solid points that eliminating state oversight could seriously impact states’ Universal Service Funds, intercarrier compensation rules, consumer protections and public safety. Sure, it would be easier for operators to live by one set of rules but that doesn’t seem fair to consumers, as Wacker notes.

It seems to me that consumers are best served by two factions of oversight. The states often can address problems and complaints that federal employees are too backlogged to tackle. Double-teaming also ensures stronger consumer protections.