Church, Chuck wrote:
Another thing for an ISP considering blocking VoIP is the fact that you're cutting off people's access to 911. That alone has got to have some tough legal ramifications. I can tell you that if my ISP started blocking my Vonage, my next cell phone call would be my attorney...
Vonage is not supposed to be a Primary Line Service. IIRC, I got a big flyer with my welcome kit that basically said this is a Communications service, not a Telephone service, and it outlined the differences. What is more stable where you are, your broadband connection or your telephone line to your LEC? (if you still have one). I know in my case at home, the phone line was much more reliable, then my cable modem. I can count the times on 1 hand that I had been without Dial tone in the last 3 years (And I live in a rural area), but my cable modem connection goes out at least once a month. So if My cable modem goes out, I would be effectively without 911 also. As my ISP @ home is not a regulated entity, the only person I can complain to is them, or else take my business elsewhere. Even if the ISP in question is a LEC, normally the ISP side of the house is unregulated. The LEC providesthe circuit, and the ISP provides the bandwidth / services on that circuit. If you ISP decided to block VOIP, your cell phone call should be to their competition to order service from them, and vote with your dollars. Or at least to your ISP to call up and complain. Just my opinion, IANAL (I don't even play one on TV), etc... -Patrick -- Patrick Muldoon Network/Software Engineer INOC (http://www.inoc.net) PGPKEY (http://www.inoc.net/~doon) Key ID: 0x370D752C (A)bort, (R)etry, (P)retend this never happened?