As a reminder that the telecommunications business is profoundly shaped by regulatory and legal policies that are never far from the surface, the Federal Communications Commission has opened an investigation into the blocking of Google Voice from the iPhone App Store.

 

Keep in mind that the FCC already is looking at wireless open access and handset exclusivity, both of which seem for those reasons to bear on the status of Google Voice on the iPhone (News - Alert).

 

James D. Schlichting, acting chief of the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, has asked for answers to several questions. The FCC wants to know what role AT&T played in the decision.

 

The FCC further wants to know what role AT&T (News - Alert) might play in restricting other iPhone apps. The agency is also investigating what roles Apple and AT&T can play, by contract, in the development of iPhone apps.

 

In addition, the FCC is looking into whether Apple consulted with AT&T in the process of deciding to reject the Google (News - Alert) Voice application. Documents relating to any such discussions must be produced, the commission said.

 

The FCC also wants an explanation of how Google Voice might differ from any other VoIP application that already is authorized to be used either on the iPhone or on AT&T's network.

 

The agency wants detail on any conditions included in AT&T’s agreements or contracts with Apple for the iPhone related to the certification of applications or any particular application’s ability to use AT&T’s 3G network. If there are terms of use limiting customer use of third party apps in general, the FCC wants answers regarding those limitations.

 

The FCC is also looking to clarify AT&T’s role in certifying applications on devices that run over AT&T’s 3G network. If there are differences in AT&T’s treatment of apps running on the iPhone and other devices used on its 3G network, the agency wants those differences defined. In addition, the agency is questioning whether any other devices that operate on the AT&T network can use Google Voice.

 

The commission also wants to know whether apps rejected for the iPhone are allowed to run on other devices on AT&T's network.

 

"Please explain whether, on AT&T’s network, consumers’ access to and usage of Google Voice is disabled on the iPhone, but permitted on other handsets, including Research in Motion’s (News - Alert) BlackBerry devices," Schlichting has asked.

 

One way or the other, it is starting to appear, Google Voice will be available on the iPhone in the future. There is no way AT&T is going to be able to defend this policy indefinitely.