The Wild Wordsmith

No, space aliens have nothing to do with this, although Google’s logo antics for the past few weeks might indicate something to that effect.

I’m no lawyer, and I’m not incredibly intimate with the rulings or dealings of the FCC (except the little sticker/engraving they make manufacturers put on every wireless device), but I hope this doesn’t spell trouble for Google’s newest product (one of my favourites, by the way — I will be extraordinarily upset if I get a small taste of something wonderful and it is suddenly taken away by The Law).

The FCC letter mentions the call-blocking feature of Google Voice, and seems to imply that it threatens the well-being of smaller rural telephone companies that are protected with a kind of exclusive-access-pass to local phones, enabling them to charge enough money to long-distance providers (and therefore likely their users, too) to stay in business in the cut-throat world that is the telecommunications industry. I don’t know much about the call-blocking they’re referring to, just that I can block telemarketers and private numbers, etc. if I so wish; and that Google offers its own competitive international calling plan.

The FCC also wants to know about Google’s invite-only system. They appear to need clarification on just what that means, even though they could pay somebody to find out by going to http://voice.google.com and actually reading something. Gods forbid.

One more thing; the FCC wants to know how Google Voice fits in with telecom laws. I say if companies like PosTrack (I wish them the best) can get big contracts installing hardware and software that does essentially the same thing (binding multiple phone numbers to one well-controlled central number with included voicemail and administrative features), then Google voice should be allowed to offer a similar hardware-independent cross-platform service for free. There’s healthy competition, so the issue at hand is NOT a monopoly — they’re simply ahead of the game a little bit.

If anybody reading this knows what more to make of this, please comment and let me know. I could use a good legal education — but please, be nice. :D

Original article courtesy of The Register. Thank you for pointing out this important issue to me. I will be watching and waiting with baited breath.

-Adrian