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FCC's Powell: 'Hands-off' on VoIP

By Dow Jones Newswire / The Associated Press

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ATLANTA — Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell yesterday called for a "light regulatory touch" on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology.

"I think the government will take a hands-off approach to it," he said, speaking at the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association's annual meeting.

The FCC in December kicked off a yearlong public dialogue on VoIP, giving the public an opportunity to air opinions about appropriate regulations for the emerging technology that allows phone calls over the Internet.

VoIP has thus far avoided regulations and taxes imposed on telecommunications companies.

VoIP is the most disruptive technology to come along in a while, Powell said. But he said its full potential is best realized when it is seen as an Internet application, not merely as a voice application. The chairman also said he saw VoIP as complementary to wireless technology.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company