USA TODAY: As more telephone customers cut the cord and shift service to wireless or Internet-based options, some major telephone companies have asked the federal government to pull the plug on the old-fashioned service.
They say regulations that require maintenance of outdated, little-used infrastructure hinders progress because it ties up money that could otherwise be invested in technology upgrades. But some small companies question the motivation behind the push, saying it is likely a self-serving effort to allow those major companies to run wild in a relatively new, far-less-regulated Internet-based telephone environment…
Experts say Internet-based telephone will mean faster and higher-quality service for consumers. Former Virginia Congressman Rick Boucher, who visited Des Moines this month to talk about the future of the Internet, said the conversation must now turn toward ensuring that any transition for residents is smooth and that factors such as cost and availability are equitable and fair… (more)
