Don't block Internet phone regulation

[Commentary] Beware of bills that claim to solve no problems. One of those is in the Legislature right now, waiting patiently for the Assembly to pass it along to Gov. Jerry Brown. The text of the bill, SB1161, says that its intent is to "reaffirm California's current policy" on Internet phone services like Skype and Google Voice by preventing the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) from regulating them. Certainly Internet phone services deserve a light touch when it comes to governmental regulation. A rapidly growing number of Californians have come to depend on them, particularly for international communications. Given these numbers, we grew suspicious when we learned that some of SB1161's biggest supporters were traditional telephone companies like AT&T and Comcast Communications. Why would these companies go out of their way to support the competition? And given the way the CPUC has treated Internet phone companies thus far - there's been very little regulation of these services, and commission members have indicated that they aren't keen on regulating them - where's the burning need for this bill? If there's no reason for a bill like this, and so much confusion about how it's going to affect the commission's basic regulatory jurisdiction, then there's no need for this bill. A bill about Internet phone service should be about Internet phone service - not about the commission's basic right to protect the public. The Legislature needs to vote down SB1161, and it needs to do so quickly. The bill passed the Senate after legislators added a long list of amendments that still aren't enough. The Assembly is scheduled to vote on it next week. The Assembly needs to shoot this bill down in order to send a strong message to the telecommunications industry that they can't use a backdoor "status quo" bill to deregulate the basic services of the future.