The Future of Communications is Dynamic and IP-Based

Verizon filed comments at the Federal Communications Commission with recommendations for how the FCC should approach the ongoing transition from the legacy, voice public switched telephone network of the past.

The industry is already moving towards the all-IP, all-broadband future that consumers want, but as always there are some in our world who want to look backwards rather than forwards. To its credit, the FCC recognizes the importance of moving to broadband and IP. Recently, Chairman Genachowski challenged the industry to bring at least one gigabit-speed internet community to each state by 2015. The FCC has also taken important steps to help facilitate the transition by reforming the universal service and inter-carrier compensation systems. The FCC now has the opportunity to consider additional steps that can further the transition, as recommended in the National Broadband Plan. The FCC has already paved the way for this with the creation of the Technology Transitions Task Force, and there are some straightforward steps the Commission can take to help accelerate the transition, as we’ve detailed in our comments. But let’s not kid ourselves – transitions like this can be unsettling.