Federal regulators are scheduled Thursday to retire the existing landline telephone system and replace it with a new digital network.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was supposed to vote to allow regional trials where phone companies would replace networks in a certain area to modern digital technology and evaluate the effect on consumers and small industries, Wall Street Journal reports.
AT&T Inc., Verizon Communications Inc. and CenturyLink Inc. are among the carriers that want to switch their present circuit-switched systems and move to one based on Internet protocol. This would mean treating phone calls like e-mails and every other data moving on the Internet.
The existence of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is already enjoyed by consumers, plus other companies that offer similar services like Microsoft Corp.'s Skype. However, these providers are not mandated to meet federal standards of reliability and guarantee that their networks work flawlessly together unlike traditional "common carriers."
The transition could be subjected to scrutiny if subscribers experience problems with their phone services. There have been some complaints about having trouble completing calls in rural areas over VoIP networks, an issue that had been highlighted in Congress.
The FCC must first give its go-signal to any move of this nature. "These will be end user impact trials. Let's not talk theoretically; let's look at what actually happens. Let's learn," said an FCC official to WSJ. Other officials at FCC and big phone companies said that seeking approval for regional trials would help prevent inconveniences.
The growing popularity of VoIP illustrate that consumers are willing and prepared to abandon the old common-carrier system, said the phone carriers. They add that Internet-based networks can provide new services like video calling. AT&T openly declared its desire to relieve the old network system.
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler listed the top issues and one of them is the decision of which common-carrier regulations should be made applicable to the new system. He has often expressed the need to retain regulatory principles that have existed for decades such as universal service and accessibility for people with disabilities.
