FCC Is Looking at SBC Charge on Internet Calls

The Federal Communications Commission will keep a close watch on SBC Communications Inc.’s new connection charge for calls made over the Internet, FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell said Friday.

Powell said a new service from SBC to connect Internet calls from other phone companies to its local network shouldn’t be used to force higher charges on voice over Internet protocol services.

“Should we conclude that this tariff is being used to justify the imposition of traditional tariffed access charges on VOIP providers or to discriminate against SBC’s competitors, the commission will take appropriate action,” Powell said in a statement.

FCC actions could include a probe of the tariff, he said.

SBC, the second-largest U.S. telecommunications company and the dominant carrier in California, said Nov. 16 that it planned to offer its own VOIP service starting early next year.

In a filing Wednesday, SBC notified the FCC of its new connection service but said Internet telephone providers could continue to use alternatives to exchange their traffic.

Shares of San Antonio-based SBC rose 12 cents to $25.48 on the New York Stock Exchange.