Essentially what they have done is prohibited any service which charges money that BTL/GOB doesn't get a cut of...

In their foolishness, they have made two distinctions that are going to continue to be blurred by new technology:

1) It is okay if VoIP is used via software on your computer (i.e. Skype, MSN Voice , Yahoo Voice) and specifically not via an analog adapter (Vonage, Packet 8)

2) It is NOT okay for any service to have a public number on which anybody on the PSTN can call. Whether this means Belize # or any # remains to be seen.

Uhm, a few points:

- Skype, Yahoo and soon all of the software-based services will have PSTN gateway services (you will have a xxx.xxx.xxxx # associated with the account)

- Vonage works via a softphone too, VoIP software installed on the computer. It is possible to make a call to another Vonage user without accessing the PSTN. This is just like Skype.

- Soon all the services will work via analog adapter, ip phone or on the computer. This is one of great features of voip.

The PUC is CONFUSED. They have been thouroughly misinformed and this is VERY bad for consumer choice in Belize.