Telcos, Cable Debate Comcast’s Right to Interconnect in Vermont
Phone and cable companies split in comments on a rural incumbent carrier’s petition concerning VoIP interconnection rights. Vermont Telephone wants the FCC to rule that it need not interconnect with Comcast Phone, a VoIP carrier. Phone companies largely sided with VTel, noting that only telecom carriers have interconnection rights. But cable said VTel’s petition failed to distinguish between VoIP providers and their wholesale carrier partners.
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VTel doesn’t have to sign an interconnection agreement with Comcast unless the FCC classifies Comcast as a telecom carrier, said the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association. The Telecom Act “expressly limits interconnection rights and obligations to telecommunications carriers under sections 251 and 252,” AT&T agreed. VoIP providers aren’t entitled to interconnection under section 251, and any claim to the contrary is “particularly inappropriate when that VoIP provider maintains that it is not a telecommunications service provider and assumes none of the obligations of such providers.”
The commission “lacks sufficient information” to rule on whether Comcast is a telecom carrier, Verizon said. The Vermont Public Service Board should decide that, AT&T said. Meanwhile, the FCC should tackle VoIP interconnection issues in its broader overhaul of intercarrier compensation, Verizon said.
VTel is wrong on Comcast, NCTA said, urging the FCC to reject the petition. “There are two Comcast entities that operate in Vermont -- a certified competitive local exchange carrier and an uncertified VoIP provider.” Comcast’s CLEC is entitled to interconnect, it said. The VTel petition is only “a desperate attempt to preserve [VTel’s] monopoly and block Comcast from offering a competing service,” it said.
VTel confused retail VoIP providers and their wholesale telecom-carrier partners, said Time Warner Cable. “Wholesale telecommunications carriers have an unequivocal right to interconnect with incumbent LECs such as VTel.” The FCC confirmed the right last year in a Time Warner interconnection order (CD March 5/07 p11), the cable company said. The FCC should reaffirm that ruling, it said.
Letting VTel have its way would deny Vermont consumers “significant competitive choice for telecommunications service,” said the Vermont Department of Public Service. “Presently, while there are wireless competitors, there are effectively no residential wireline competitors operating in VTEL’s ILEC service territory.”
Skype also weighed in. The FCC should “clarify” that interconnected wholesale carriers “are entitled to terminate all forms of IP-originated traffic -- without restriction,” it said. “Anything less, risks impairing the already anemic level of competitive voice alternatives available to consumers.” And the FCC should “firmly locate Title II interconnection rights with telecommunications carriers who sell wholesale services to VoIP providers” like Skype, it said.