With technology improving every day, more and more people are choosing to rely on high speed internet connections to make low-cost and high-quality phone calls through their computers.

That's why Washingtonians should be worried about the Telecommunications Competition Amendment Act of 2007. If the DC City Council passes this bill, companies that provide Voice Over Internet Protocol service (VOIP) – phone service through the internet – will no longer be subject to government regulation for quality of service.

Please contact the DC City Council before the March 4 vote, and tell them to vote no on the bill.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

On March 4th 2008 you will be given the privilege of voting on behalf of all DC residents on the "Telecommunications Competition Amendment Act of 2007," a bill that would exempt Voice Over Internet Protocol service (VOIP) from regulation in the District of Columbia. You will have to decide whether to retain your mandate as an elected representative, or willingly and needlessly give it away to a corporation.

As a resident of this city, I urge you to vote NO on the VOIP deregulation bill. Recent quality of service hearings held on February 7th and 9th under the Committee on Consumer and Regulatory Affairs overwhelmingly showed that Verizon, VOIP's main provider here in the District, has not been able to meet quality of service standards for its existing services. Out of service intervals have gone up 69% and the number of complaints to the FCC have doubled in just the last few of years.

Even more alarmingly, Verizon continues to systematically disinvest from DC. In the last 3 years, it has moved a third of all jobs out of the city, and as a result of this lack of investment and proper service, our communications network has eroded. So this begs the question, if Verizon can't even meet the requirements for its regulated services, how can you possibly imagine that they will do so for unregulated ones?

Currently the FCC prevents the regulation of internet-based services, but what if 5 years from now the FCC decides to alter the law? VOIP use is growing, and may become the main way many people get home phone service. The DC government must have the tools to respond. By giving up your right to regulate a new technology, you will be shirking off your responsibility to protect consumers.

Vote NO to VOIP deregulation.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
February 25, 2008