heathcpe
join:2002-03-19
Brandon, MS
| reply to Karl Bode
Re: Tough one
said by Karl Bode  :Not necessarily a fair equation, because VoIP isn't regulated yet. In that sense, is TV over IP regulated??? |
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Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02 | TV over IP isn't even deployed. |
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batageek
Slave To The Duopoly
Premium
join:2003-01-25
| But this is a great point for discussion.
In theory since IPTV is a data service, it would be regulated in a similar fashion to VOIP.
If it's not a cable service (as traditional Comcast offerings are), then it's product is not subject to franchise fees anyway. I know our franchises here only generate revenues on "cable tv services" and not data services (such as VOIP or internet services). IPTV would be excluded by its very nature of transport.
In addition, VOIP services don't pay local telecommunications taxes either. In our area, the local govs can impose up to a 6% telco tax on traditional phone landline and cellular phone services. But offerings such as Vonage are exempt because of their "data service" classification by the FCC. Which also brings up another problem - they also don't pay into 911 funding.
If I was Comcast, SBC, or Verizon I'd be shooting for the triple play via ip just because I could avoid all of the franchise requirement payments and telco taxes, except for maybe pole attachment fees.
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cdru
Go Colts
Premium,MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN
| reply to heathcpe
If you want to get technical, it currently appears that Verizon is NOT going to do TV over IP. I know that you didn't say that this was, but I just wanted to make that distinction. Another branch of this thread started to compare VoIP and digital phone service that some cable companies provide...that too is different in the same way to what TV over IP is to Verizon's planned "cable" TV.
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