The F.C.C. is moving toward allowing phone companies to replace their century-old landlines with internet-based phone service.

Tom Wheeler was a powerful lobbyist for the telecom industry. Now he's running the organization that regulates it.

In rural areas, one out of every 5 land-line long-distance calls doesn't go through.

But there are loopholes to the rule…

The case could impact our broadband Internet access.

It's part of the Connect America Fund, and it's targeted at 600,000 rural homes and businesses that don't have broadband infrastructure.

The Federal Communications Commission has a new chairman, Tom Wheeler. If confirmed by the Senate, he'll replace Julius Genachowski, who resigned in March.

Federal regulators may want Wi-Fi Internet connections to get more widespread and powerful, but the government is not giving the service away for free.

Some American cities tried this and ran up against a buzz saw of opposition from companies that sell Internet service.

The FCC looks at what can be done to minimize disruptions to phone service during natural disasters.