With AT&T alleging that Google Voice service blocks outgoing calls to some phone numbers in areas where higher access fees is charged, a group of lawmakers representing rural areas have urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to conduct due investigations into the matter.

In a letter to the FCC, the lawmakers - including Reps. Steve Buyer, Charlie Melancon, Michele Bachmann, and John Barrow - said that allowing Google to "evade compliance with important principles of access and competition," can adversely affect the rural consumers.

Meanwhile, indicating that the Google-AT&T blocked-call tussle is actually a part of a bigger 'net neutrality' combat between the two, AT&T accused Google of hypocrisy, saying that while Google apparently supports open Internet rules, its policy of blocking of callers' access to certain numbers, including adult chat lines and conference-call centers, presents an altogether different picture.

Saying that the FCC should investigate the extent to which rural residents or businesses are being affected by the blocked calls, an AT&T spokesman added: "Once policy makers have all the data, they can then determine how open Google really is, or if there is a double standard."

In fact, while Google Voice has thus far pulled off its blocked calls strategy; AT&T, Qwest Communications International and other common-carrier telephone carriers are involved in a lawsuit concerning high access charges in rural areas!