Tell the F.C.C. to Say NO to Skype

Urge the F.C.C. To Protect America's Wireless Consumers - Don't Expose Us to Quality and Security Problems

Skype -- an Internet communications company owned by eBay -- is lobbying the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for rules that could negatively impact your wireless service.

Skype and its supporters want to stop your wireless carrier from providing "free" or discounted phones to customers who subscribe to their service. While this may make it easier for Skype to compete, do you want your wireless phone to cost you more?

Skype is making a dangerous request of the FCC -- basically to force American wireless companies to open their networks to all phones and all applications that work on those phones. Sounds good at first blush, right? But, if approved, Skype's request will risk the service quality, competitive pricing, features and security you have come to expect from your wireless service. Skype uses consumer-friendly terms to make its case, but in reality, it is simply advancing a business model that would degrade the quality of your wireless service, opening it up to a host of quality and security problems.

Wireless consumers ultimately choose their phones, and the applications that work on those phones, based on the quality of service and the value they get from the provider they choose. This ensures consumers get the best call quality and efficiency available. Untested phones and unproven applications may not only hurt wireless quality, but because of the way wireless works, they could negatively impact other wireless users in the area.

The bottom line is that if the FCC concedes to Skype, the company wins big, but American wireless consumers lose bigger.

But there is still hope for America's 235 million wireless consumers, and you can make a difference today! Tell the F.C.C. that Skype's self-serving plan is wrong for the quality and security of wireless networks, and for wireless consumers.