IP Communications Featured Articles

The all-IP environment is a buzzword that has held the attention of decision makers throughout the global market for some time. While a number of organizations have leveraged the proper tools to make one network efficiently support all communications, a number are still sitting on the fence, waiting for the right time to change. With the Federal Communications Commission (FCC (News - Alert)) watching from the sidelines, the change to the IP communications infrastructure appears to be imminent.

On the FCC’s website, Chairman Tom Wheeler (News - Alert) shared a blog post in which he addressed this changing focus toward IP communications. We are now in what he refers to as the “fourth network revolution,” something that helps generate new networks to catalyze innovations, ideas, investments and ingenuity.

The spillover effects from these efforts can transform society for the better. Wheeler shared his belief that the way forward was to encourage technological change while still preserving the attributes of network services that customers demand. This is a set of values that is slowly becoming known as the “Network Compact.” While the change is both warranted and demanded, it still impacts customers – an impact AT&T (News - Alert) and NTCA wanted to know more about through FCC efforts.

As a result, the agency sought comments to better understand the right direction for moving forward. Based on the information gathered, Wheeler and his FCC colleagues have stated publicly that there is a need for change that minimizes the impact on the end user. Therefore, the FCC is called to embrace the future by expediting the IP transition while still paying heed to the four enduring values that have always informed communications law: universal access, public safety, consumer protection and competition.

A consideration of an Order for immediate action is expected to be included in the January meeting. This Order is expected to include recommendations to the FCC on how best to speed the initiation of experiments and assess, measure, monitor and analyze their outcomes. A major component of this process will be an examination of how consumers are informed and protected. Collaboration will be key throughout the industry, and the best process for deciding legal and policy questions will be determined.

The point is that there is considerable demand in the market to shift to all IP, all the time. Likewise, providers want to respond to this demand and the FCC wants to ensure that quality services are delivered to the consumer base at competitive rates. If the right balance is achieved, everyone wins.