FCC Initiates Probe on Google Voice

FCC Initiates Probe on Google Voice

The US Federal Communications Commission is slated to conduct a probe on Google's web-based phone service, Google Voice. The move came following complaints filed by AT&T and other IT companies over Google's policy to block particular calls in rural areas in the US.
 

Back in September, AT&T has charged Google of blocking some calls routing to rural regions due to the huge access charges it has to shell out. This is deemed as a violation of net neutrality, alarming AT&T and other concerned companies. 

 

The FCC has notified Google, requesting for an explanation why it is blocking calls to such areas. The Commission is strictly prohibiting the act, which puts Google into a difficult situation.

 

“Google Voice is a free web application, one intended to supplement and enhance existing phone lines, not replace them,” Google's Richard Whitt said in response to the allegations. 

 

“ The goal of Google Voice is to provide a useful, unified communications tool (including for, among others, soldiers and the homeless). Some have observed that Google Voice is 'something a real phone company should have offered years ago'."

 

Whitt further argued Google's decision to block some calls does not have anything to do with net neutrality. He then accused AT&T of asking the FCC to block calls to rural communities for similar reasons as Google. 

 

“This is about outdated carrier compensation rules that are fundamentally broken and in need of repair by the FCC,” Whitt said.