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Senate committee dials up Internet phone law upgrades
CONCORD — A Senate committee is recommending that state telephone regulations be updated to better address the current technological and competitive environment.
Supporters of the proposal, made by Sen. Bob Odell, R-Lempster, say it would give landline companies regulatory parity with wireless and cable providers. Wireless and cable companies are essentially unregulated.
Odell said the legislation is long overdue.
“This is a good example of how laws need to keep pace with technology,” he said. “Telecommunication companies here in New Hampshire that provide landline services are seeking regulatory parity with cable and wireless providers.”
He said currently, landline companies operate under much more onerous regulations than do wireless and cable providers.
“SB 48 will represent a significant modernization of our current policies. We want the free market, not regulations, to dictate which companies gain or lose customers,” Odell said. “Competition is already managing the retail market and creating better offers for customers.”
Another sponsor of the bill, Sen. Gary Lambert, R-Nashua, said he understands the negative effect old laws can have on new products and emerging industries.
SB 48 includes first-time language defining Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP, which allows phone conversations using the Internet. The service was invented in 1994, but only became widely available to consumers in 2004.
“I am pleased we are adding VoIP to our upgrade of New Hampshire telecommunications law,” Lambert said. “All the upgrades in SB 48 show we're looking out for consumers and supporting businesses here in New Hampshire all at the same time. Across the country, 21 states have already passed laws deregulating VoIP, including Massachusetts.”
When initially proposed, the Public Utilities Commission and low-income advocates had serious reservations about the bill.
The proposal was reworked and now addresses some of their concerns.
The PUC voiced concerns the bill would inhibit its ability to regulate safety standards in the telecommunications industry as well as capital investment requirements like broadband services.
Odell and Lambert said the bill makes it clear the PUC would retain its authority to regulate safety, along with its ability to manage rights of way.
The commission would continue its oversight over slamming and cramming, the illegal switching of carriers without a customer's knowledge or putting unauthorized charges on a person's bill.
Paul Cianelli, president of the New England Cable & Telecommunications Association, said, “The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee's vote moves New Hampshire toward being a more attractive investment, a better innovation environment, a lower-cost place to do business, and a stronger competitor with other states — all of which will lead to more jobs.”
He said reducing VoIP regulation increases investment and innovation in critical technologies that New Hampshire's business and residential customers use every day, noting 20 other states have passed similar legislation.
Supporters of the proposal, made by Sen. Bob Odell, R-Lempster, say it would give landline companies regulatory parity with wireless and cable providers. Wireless and cable companies are essentially unregulated.
Odell said the legislation is long overdue.
“This is a good example of how laws need to keep pace with technology,” he said. “Telecommunication companies here in New Hampshire that provide landline services are seeking regulatory parity with cable and wireless providers.”
He said currently, landline companies operate under much more onerous regulations than do wireless and cable providers.
“SB 48 will represent a significant modernization of our current policies. We want the free market, not regulations, to dictate which companies gain or lose customers,” Odell said. “Competition is already managing the retail market and creating better offers for customers.”
Another sponsor of the bill, Sen. Gary Lambert, R-Nashua, said he understands the negative effect old laws can have on new products and emerging industries.
SB 48 includes first-time language defining Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP, which allows phone conversations using the Internet. The service was invented in 1994, but only became widely available to consumers in 2004.
“I am pleased we are adding VoIP to our upgrade of New Hampshire telecommunications law,” Lambert said. “All the upgrades in SB 48 show we're looking out for consumers and supporting businesses here in New Hampshire all at the same time. Across the country, 21 states have already passed laws deregulating VoIP, including Massachusetts.”
When initially proposed, the Public Utilities Commission and low-income advocates had serious reservations about the bill.
The proposal was reworked and now addresses some of their concerns.
The PUC voiced concerns the bill would inhibit its ability to regulate safety standards in the telecommunications industry as well as capital investment requirements like broadband services.
Odell and Lambert said the bill makes it clear the PUC would retain its authority to regulate safety, along with its ability to manage rights of way.
The commission would continue its oversight over slamming and cramming, the illegal switching of carriers without a customer's knowledge or putting unauthorized charges on a person's bill.
Paul Cianelli, president of the New England Cable & Telecommunications Association, said, “The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee's vote moves New Hampshire toward being a more attractive investment, a better innovation environment, a lower-cost place to do business, and a stronger competitor with other states — all of which will lead to more jobs.”
He said reducing VoIP regulation increases investment and innovation in critical technologies that New Hampshire's business and residential customers use every day, noting 20 other states have passed similar legislation.