FCC task force to examine move from landline to VoIP

On December 10, FCC Chairman Genachowski announced the founding of the Technology Transitions Policy Task Force to "ensure that our nation's communications policies continue to drive a virtuous cycle of innovation and investment, promote competition, and protect consumers?"

Headed by FCC General Counsel Sean Lev, the task force is most concerned with broadband transition. Or, the movement of communications networks "from special purpose to general purpose, from circuit-switched to packet-switched, and from copper to fiber and wireless-based networks."

Specifically, "the Task Force will coordinate the Commission's efforts on IP interconnection, resiliency of 21st century communications networks, business broadband competition, and consumer protection with a particular focus on voice services."

The FCC is looking to modernize its telecommunications rules that "were written for a different technological and market landscape," said Genachowski.

The move takes on a certain urgency since AT&T announced plans in November to transition its copper rural lines to wireless, a move that telecommunications blogger Harold Feld called, "the single most important development in telecom since passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996."

Speed Matters urges the FCC to put consumer and job protections in the forefront of any proposed rules changes.

Genachowski announces formation of 'Technology Transitions Policy Task Force' (FCC, Dec. 10, 2012)

Shutting Down The Phone System Gets Real (Speed Matters, Nov. 15, 2012)

FCC Tackles Broadband Transition With New Task Force (channelpartnersonline.com, Dec. 10, 2012)