FCC Tariff Changes Mean No More Free Conference Calls

Posted by timothy on Saturday July 21, 2012 @05:12AM from the just-add-more-tin-cans dept.

kgeiger writes "The FCC is changing the call termination tariffs that subsidized rural wireline service and coincidentally free conference calls. Free conference call services had located their dial-in centers in rural areas to scoop up FCC tariffs from its Universal Service Fund. USF monies will go to broadband deployment instead. Be prepared to put more nickels in the box." On the other hand, maybe ad-driven Internet services (whether free or "freemium") will step in to the free-conference gap with some good-enough options, as they have for many other services, like email and faxing.

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What era is this again? by Kagetsuki · 2012-07-21 06:22 · Score: 1, Troll

I don't even have POTS and it isn't even available in my building (we have fiber only with optional IP phone service). I wouldn't even know how to hold a conference call over standrad phone service. For video conferencing we've switched to good webcams and Google Hangout. Skype is fine for voice. There are more VOIP providers than there are species of fish. Seriously, if you're so outdated you shouldn't be making conference calls in the first places.