The Feds Must Protect VoIP

VoIP is not only the wave of the future for enterprises and consumers -- it's already here today in a big way, as the success of Vonage and Skype, which just signed up its millionth paid customer, shows.

But in the dog-eat-dog world of networking and telecom services, not everyone plays fair. And unless the feds crack down on unscrupulous service providers, VoIP could be in for trouble.

What's the problem? Service providers have been blocking VoIP traffic from Vonage so that their subscribers can't use the Vonage VoIP service for phone calls. The reason is simple: The service providers offer telephone service, and so they want to strangle their competition.

More than one service provider has done this. Several weeks ago, the FCC fined a North Carolina provider $15,000 for blocking Vonage.

More recently, Vonage was blocked again, allegedly by a cable company that also provides Internet services.This may just be the beginning. VoIP is one of those "disruptive" technologies with the possibility of forever changing the way people make phone calls, and the big losers are service providers who provide phone service. Some of these providers have shown that they'll do anything on either side of the law to kill VoIP in the bud.

It's time for the feds to get tough on this A $15,000 fine, after all, is mere chump change. The FCC needs not only to hand out tougher fines, but also to beef up enforcement efforts as well. Enterprises and consumers have a lot to gain from VoIP, and dirty tricks shouldn't be allowed to kill the service while it's still young.