Voice over Internet Protocol (or VoIP) is just what it sounds like – the ability to make and receive phone calls using a broadband Internet connection. At present, VoIP is exempted from virtually all of the public interest obligations and consumer protections that apply to other telecommunications services. That means the service itself is not equivalent to wireline phone. Letting VoIP skip out on paying its fair share of costs will soon diminish the quality and driving up the cost of basic telephone service for those who simply cannot afford to switch to broadband.
