Principles for a Successful IP Transition: Accessibility

Last month, the Benton Foundation released The New Network Compact: Making the IP Transition Work for Vulnerable Communities. The report, written by Ted Gotsch, includes 10 interrelated principles to help policymakers guide the transition from traditional telephone service to emerging broadband networks. In our first post, we looked at the availability of affordable broadband networks throughout the country. Today we look at Accessibility. Having telecommunications services reach all Americans is part of the solution. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) also has to ensure that any transition to broadband networks grants all people the ability to use those services as they want. In an increasingly technology-dependent world, there are more and greater benefits available to many communities than ever before. There are legitimate worries when it comes to health monitoring. These services are often dependent on the PSTN, and as residents of Fire Island temporarily found out, the infirm can be left without a way to be observed remotely if the wireline network is replaced with only a wireless one.