Google Voice subject of FCC scrutiny

SAN FRANCISCO — The Federal Communications Commission has requested information from Google about the company's Voice Internet calling service after complaints that it violates a ban on so-called call-blocking.

In a letter to Google on Friday, FCC Wireline Competition Bureau Chief Sharon Gillett notes that reports indicate that Google is restricting some calls made through the Voice service to rural areas, thus reducing its operating expenses.

Gillett adds that such call-blocking is banned and asks Google to answer questions including how it chooses which calls to restrict, and whether its service should be classified as a "telecommunications service."

"We are interested in gathering facts that can provide a more complete understanding of this situation," Gillett writes in the letter, adding that Google has until Oct. 28 to respond.

Google has in the past acknowledged blocking some calls made through Voice, but has argued that the "open Internet" principles espoused by the FCC apply to traditional services provided by telecommunications carriers, not to Internet-based software applications.

Large carriers including AT&T have begged to differ.

AT&T last month complained to the FCC that Voice is merely a "creatively packaged" traditional telecommunications service, and that Google's call-blocking through Voice violates the principle of network neutrality — a principle championed in the past by both Google and FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski.

In addition, members of Congress have raised the issue with the FCC.

The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that an inquiry from the FCC to Google about its Voice service was forthcoming.

A Google spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Google's Voice service has raised other issues for the Internet giant in the past.

When reports surfaced earlier this year that Voice had not been approved for Apple's popular iPhone device, speculation had it that AT&T was likely behind the move.

However, Google recently told the FCC that it was Apple that had blocked the service from the iPhone. Apple maintained that Voice had not been blocked and was still being reviewed.