Qwest gets charitable over VoIP

Qwest Communications has thrown down the gauntlet to federal regulators by calling for the removal of local line access fee charges for companies offering voice-over-internet (VoIP) services. The telco is the first incumbent regional operator to argue the case for free calls: it is pushing for a relaxed national policy on the grounds that IP has been the telecoms industry’s fastest growing segment ‘because the lack of regulation has allowed the marketplace to drive innovation and value’. According to the Financial Times, Qwest set out its stall to coincide with an announcement that it would begin offering VoIP to providers that gave them direct access to the local loop in its 14-state service region without having to pay regulated fees and access charges. The move could help unravel the confusion surrounding the treatment of VoIP calls. Federal regulators recently ruled that long-distance carrier AT&T would have to pay full access fees for calls originating or terminating on a POTS line, but Qwest’s announcement could have thrown its rival a lifeline. AT&T is presently rolling out a nationwide VoIP service called Call-Vantage.