Brian O’Shaughnessy is Skype’s Head of Global Communications.

Coined by the author Malcom Gladwell, ‘tipping points’ have been defined as ‘the levels at which the momentum for change becomes unstoppable.’

This momentum for change reached epic heights in the United States last week through both the rhetoric of perhaps the most important communications policy regulator, and the rapidly evolving opinions of the American people.

In Washington DC, the new Federal Communications Commission Chairman, Julius Genachowski, shared a stage with Skype president Josh Silverman and other communications leaders and outlined his plan for net neutrality rules to allow for transparency and non-discrimination in the wireless ecosystem. Skype’s Christopher Libertelli, Skype’s Senior Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs, wrote a compelling post on the significance of the FCC announcement and what it means for the average mobile Internet user.

As a follow-up to the exciting news by the FCC last week, Skype also has new consumer survey data on mobile Internet attitudes that strongly support Chairman Genachowski’s visions and what we at Skype consider the future of communications.

The survey results show that the vast majority of Americans think wireless providers have too much power over deciding which software applications they can put on their mobile phones, and that control instead belongs to the individual user.

The Zogby findings underscore the public support the FCC has in pushing for increased mobile openness and consumer choice. 64% of Americans support the FCC’s recent decision to open an inquiry into competition among wireless providers, and two-thirds of Americans favor greater consumer control over which applications should be allowed to run on a mobile device.

Other key findings from the poll include:

Control Belongs to Consumers – Americans think wireless providers have too much control over how consumers use their handsets. The individual consumer is best suited to make those decisions.

• 59% of Americans think that wireless providers have too much power over how consumers can use their handsets.
• 67.3% say that it is consumers who are best suited to decide which software applications should be allowed to run on a mobile handset. By comparison, 8.7% say wireless providers should decide, 8.9% handset manufacturers and only 2.7% pick the federal government.

Skype Increases the Value of Wireless Service – Americans see value in software applications, such as Skype, that allow them to make unlimited free calls over wireless networks.

• More than half of Americans (54%) agree that an Internet calling software application, such as Skype, that allows them to make free calls to anywhere in the world on a mobile phone increases the value of a mobile phone service.
• Likewise, 50% say they would be more likely to pay for a wireless service that allows them to use software applications like Skype to make unlimited free calls anywhere in the world.

Affordable, High-Speed Mobile Internet Improves Lives – Three-quarters (75%) of Americans agree that affordable high-speed Internet access on cell phones or other mobile devices would help some people get access to information and technology that will improve their lives.

Mobile Internet’s Digital Divide – When it comes to accessing the Internet on a mobile phone, frequency of usage depends on age, income, education and where people live.

• Younger Americans more frequently use the Internet on their cell phones or mobile devices to access email, news and other types of information. 33% of those ages 30-49 access the Internet daily on their phones, compared to just 8% of Americans over 65.
• Those earning over $100K a year (37%) are more likely to access the Internet daily than those earning less than $25K (17%). Likewise, those with a college degree (31%) are more likely than those without one (19%).
• Also, daily usage is more popular in large cities (31%) versus in rural areas (11%).

At Skype, we believe that a true open mobile Internet will provide benefits to people in all regions and income levels.

The findings are clear – most consumers favor greater choice, flexibility and control over managing their personal mobile communications, and a majority support the FCC’s efforts to put more control in their hands. But this move is also a win for device makers and network service providers, as consumers will see increased value in their products and services when in a more open broadband ecosystem.

Consumers want it. Critical policymakers are supporting it. A tipping point is upon us.

Zogby surveyed 2,016 U.S. adults, ages 18 and up, from September 15-17, 2009.