In a blog post, Google has given their take on the whole brouhaha over the restriction of outbound Google Voice calls to phone numbers in “rural” areas. Google writes that the reason they restrict these calls to local phone carriers’ in rural areas is not only because they charge pricey termination rates for calls but because these carriers are partnering with adult sex phone operations and free conferencing call centers to drive traffic. Google says that because Voice is a free application, they can’t afford to pay for these rates — and that because it is not a traditional phone service, it shouldn’t have to.
AT&T has also previously tried to block calls to these areas but the FCC mandated that the carrier continue service to these areas to provide universal service. AT&T called Google out a few weeks ago to the FCC, saying that there’s no reason that Google should be able to block these calls because of the rates if AT&T can’t do this. Shortly afterward, Google responded, explaining that it was not a traditional phone carrier and should not be held to the same rules as AT&T. But AT&T continued to complain and has even convinced a number of members of Congress to decry Google’s actions.
Today, the FCC responded to AT&T’s complaint by asking Google for more information about Google Voice, which Google claims is a free web-based free application designed to “supplement and enhance existing phone lines, not replace them.” Google says that AT&T is in a completely different situation, in part because the carrier charges users for their services and receives hundreds of millions of dollars in universal service subsidies. Google says that web applications like Google Voice and Skype shouldn’t be treated like traditional phone services and calls attention to AT&T’s hypocrisy in the whole matter.
Here’s the the conclusion from Google’s post:
And despite AT&T’s lobbying efforts, this issue has nothing to do with network neutrality or rural America. This is about outdated carrier compensation rules that are fundamentally broken and in need of repair by the FCC.
Photo credit: Flickr/technicolorcavalry
Of course the rules around carrier compensation are fundamentally broken, but Google stepped into this space on their own free will. Welcome to the 1950’s, now shut up and pay for access to the lines…
Wow, here is a shocker. Matt is a “Microsoft technologist”.
Matt != Clue
I agree with Google… Uncle Sam subsidizes Ma Bell, not Google… I’m sure Google would be more than happy to unblock these rural numbers if the Fed wants to cut Google in on the Free Government Money Giveaway.
Matt != Clue
Is Google Voice a carrier? Walks like a duck, quacks like a duck….
Maybe a bit simple, but in my opinion it applies.
No, they are not a carrier. Tell me, make a phone call to someone using nothing but Google Voice. Go ahead….
What’s that? You can’t?
Enough said.
+1
while its not possible with just google voice, using google voice/gizmo it is 100% possible to make 100% free calls, inbound and outbound.
I’m not really sure how you say that GV is a carrier, since you still need a phone line on both ends to actually complete the call. I can’t subscribe to GV and have it replace my phone line (number, yes, but not the actual line).
I see this whole argument as kind of pointless anyway, since anyone trying to dial the numbers that GV restricts could dial them directly instead, so Google isn’t really restricting access to these numbers anyways.
good point Andrew. Google isnt a carrier and the number isn’t blocked on anyones phone as GV is an “alternative” and the core phone functionality still exists, meaning tehy COULD dial that number if they really wanted to.
A “telecommunications carrier” has specific definitions and must follow specific regulations. Google is a providing a service and is not bound by the same regulations covering AT&T. Google is offering a free service and is free to choose it’s limits. AT&T offers a pay service and a common carrier can’t show preference. It also happens to gorge on rural subsidies to help compensate for these overcharges. (That said, the system is very broken, but won’t get fixed so long as rural states control the Senate.)
Yeah, very simple, and not correct! They are NOTs a carrier, you have to have a carrier to even use google voice. AT&T is trying to make them pay for something AT&T already makes money on. Nobody is forcing anyone to use google voice but in many areas AT&T is the only choice. All public utilities are monopolies…they have to be regulated…Google is a search engine/software company! Don’t use them if you don’t want to, I can think of at least 4 others that work just about as well.
google is right
This sounds like an At&T PR nightmare in the works.
I understand At&T doesn’t like that Google Voice type services allow you to circumvent their cash cow (SMS) and turn them into the figurative “dumb pipe” as Michael calls it, but At&T is being flat out dishonest now.
We’ve seen so many such cases in the past. Google is as a new medium on a conventional market (hardware-telcos), so it is just a matter of time Google will be ‘attacked’ from either side (by any means including FCC, lobbying etc) with the only purpose – to intimidate if not Google than other entrants. Hopefully, Google is not the guy to take beating.
I love the Sprint ads on this page. Great media planning…
Google should push Technology to transmit energy over the air as fast as possible and most importantly be EXTRA SUPER DUPER nice to the FCC so they let them.
This will force REFORM as google will be able to charge a (small or nonexistent) utility bill since our phones wont go out when the lights do (most cases) and it opens the door to yet one more competitor to drive down prices and give us better service.
so in reality this will make Home phones a thing of the past or atleast make them better, again.
(RUMOR) These major phone providers are secretly funding Internet through wall outlet (electrical outlet) Be weary of what technology YOU support as your choice is like a VOTE and this one can either go to a religious institution (they are THE monopoly) or the ones who are really trying to make the world a better place for YOU and ME.
I dont mind a monopoly as long as they work for me, but when they work against me, what happens?
Put pressure on anything and what do you get in return, Resistance.
Try to go with satellite as the Wired connections tend to be owned by HARDCORE A holes, like Really Really big ones.
Google writes software to ‘enhance’ telephone service…FREE to the consumer (100%) and they are the one’s being called into the “principles office”? Software is not regulated by the FCC…it never has been. (Emphasis on the ‘never’). Traditional phone service however, cannot discriminate between types of calls…or connection costs. What’s the issue? The original physical connection still exists…Google simply writes (or buys) the software/code and they have to be considered a telco? I don’t buy it!~
…Besides, more (purchased) minutes will be consumed if everyone is always reachable! Isn’t that clear? …Shoooot, iF Google has no VOICE, then who the hell does? (A: The monopolies).
Telephony switches are quiet capable of performing the same call discrimination implemented by Google Voice. It simply is not allow under the current regulations.
quite not “quiet”
It is the same story that ISP’s were (and still are) granted tax breaks and subsidies of several 100 millions (since 1998, and I don’t blame Gore for this) to bring 10mbit connections (fiber) to every household till 2005.
Who has 10mbit connections in the US right now ( http://www.huli...d-speeds-survey )?
Technically, Google IS very much a carrier. They do in fact convey calls between 2 points, which certainly makes them a carrier.
Google takes calls from an originating point (inbound number) and relays them to the destination point (outbound number). The fact that they are “in the middle” is immaterial; they are still a carrier because they “carry” the call. Years ago, when there were many phone companies, it wasn’t uncommon to have multiple carriers involved in the routing of a single call. Thus, it’s no different from where google finds itself today, except they are using today’s technology for transmission.
I personally like the concept of google voice, but the reality is that they are riding on the coattails of a much more costly-to-maintain infrastructure without the liabilities, regulations, and overhead required of that infrastructure. That leaves traditional carriers with a handicap and google with a clear advantage.
On this path, it is possible that if only traditional carriers are held to a tougher standard, traditional phone service infrastructure will degrade and wither in the years ahead, and this country will have yet again self-liquidated another element of its physical infrastructure. While it’s easy to want the ‘freebies’ of the moment, there may very well be a cost and regrets in a few years if this isn’t thought through.
There are no ‘freebies’ in this, only for the consumer…sponsored by Google. Who do you think is paying for the call back and forth for Google Voice to proxy your number…NOT AT&T. Google is paying a small fee for all these connections and doesn’t require us to pay. Thus they should be allowed to say who they are going to connect and who they are not. AT&T gets paid to make these connections by the government. Google voice is a free service that you don’t have to use, and in fact can’t use unless you have been invited or had a grand central account. AT&T’s goal is to keep the FCC looking elsewhere, if anyone had half a brain at AT&T, possibly the FCC, they could see that Google Voice does actually help all voice services. YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN EXISTING CARRIER TO EVEN USE GOOGLE VOICE. No AT&T’s in the world Google Voice wouldn’t even exist. They should be figuring out a way to get it to everyone as would probably suck the last little bit of usefulness out of the POTS lines. Besides this has to do more with Google Voice being rejected by Apple. AT&T saw an opportunity to create a media blitz of misinformation.