FCC Workshop on Public Switched Telephone Network in Transition

Workshop on Public Switched Telephone Network in Transition

Federal Communications Commission
Wednesday December 14, 2011
AM/PM
http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2011/db1110/DA-1...

The Federal Communications Commission is holding two workshops to examine the transition from the public switched telephone network (PSTN) to new technologies. Circuit-switched wireline voice technology has created a high standard for reliability, accessibility, and ubiquity. Consumers will continue to expect and demand these qualities, even as they shift from PSTN services to services provided over different networks. The transition away from the PSTN is already occurring, and is likely to accelerate. Through these workshops, the Commission will seek input on the technical, economic, and policy issues that must be addressed to minimize disruption during this transition, and to protect consumers, public safety, competition, and other important interests.

The second workshop will examine a wide array of economic, technological, and policy issues that need to be addressed as consumers choose to subscribe to, and rely on, new technologies and services.

9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
Welcome Remarks by Zachary Katz, Chief Counsel and Senior Legal Advisor, Office of the
Chairman, FCC
9:40 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Impact of the Transition on the Technology and Economics of the PSTN
Participants include:
· Dale Hatfield, University of Colorado
· Jon Peha, Carnegie Mellon
· Gerald Brock, George Washington University
· William Lehr, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
· Joe Gillan, Gillan Associates
· Richard Shockey, SIP Forum
Moderators: Paul de Sa and Marius Schwartz, Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis, FCC

10:45 a.m. – 11:45 p.m.
Policies of the PSTN (e.g., accessibility, reliability, affordability, and public safety)
Participants include:
· Carolyn Gideon, Tufts University
· Mark Cooper, Consumer Federation of America
· Gregg C. Vanderheiden, University of Wisconsin
· Tom McGarry, Neustar
Moderators: Sharon Gillett, Wireline Competition Bureau, FCC, and Commissioner Geoffrey G. Why, Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Cable

Break for Lunch

1:00 p.m. – 2:10 p.m.
Implementing the Transition to New Networks
Participants include:
· David Young, Verizon
· John D. Schanz, Comcast
· Marvin A. Sirbu, Carnegie Mellon
· Douglas Sicker, National Telecommunications and Information Association (NTIA)
· Randy Nicklas, XO Communications
Moderator: Henning Schulzrinne, Engineering Fellow, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, FCC, and Columbia University

2:10 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.
Syncing Expectations, Emerging Technologies and the Public Good
Participants include:
· John W. Mayo, Georgetown University
· W. Russell Neuman, University of Michigan
· Kevin Werbach, University of Pennsylvania – Wharton
· Donald Troshynski, Acme Packet
· Bill Taylor, Panasonic Systems Networks
Moderators: Daniel Kirschner, Office of the General Counsel, FCC, and Shahid Ahmed, Accenture

3:20 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Economic Rationales for PSTN Transition
Participants include:
· David J. Gabel, Queens College
· Barbara Cherry, Indiana University
· Lee W. McKnight, Syracuse University
· Craig Moffett, Sanford Bernstein
· Fernando Beltran, University of Auckland, NZ and FCC Visiting Scholar
Moderators: Paul de Sa and Marius Schwartz, Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis, FCC