We have been doing this for six years. It is a common feature of the telecom system--one that allows networks to connect to each other and still earn a reasonable return on investment in their own equipment. In this case, the long distance company is earning an average of 7 to 8 cents per minute and often more (particularly for wireless companies who sell blocks of minutes that you get financially punished for exceeding). The rural telco exchange rate set by the FCC is typically less than 4 cents (AT&T singled out parties charging 4 to 7 cents in its lawsuit). This is simply new business that creates opportunities for profits for everyone in the chain. This is not a hidden tax.

We will be doing this six years from now. The rate our partners charge and what commission that allows them to pay is the only question, but there will always be free conferencing based on paid long distance, just as there will always be free calling based on paid access to the internet (the business model for VOIP).

Regardless of how you might feel about anyone's business model, it is simply unacceptable to unilaterally exercise market power to block calls.