On February 5, Public Knowledge and twelve other consumer advocacy groups filed comments before the Federal Communications Commission in response to the Commission’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on network transitions. Public Knowledge urges the Commission to adopt clear and robust rules to ensure no one is left behind in the phone network transition to IP, fiber, or wireless.
The following is attributed to Jodie Griffin, Senior Staff Attorney at Public Knowledge:
“The Commission has signaled that it is committed to protecting consumers as networks across the country transition to new technologies. We support the Commission’s efforts to protect the fundamental values of the network that made the phone network such a success and encouraged decades of innovation that led to technologies like broadband.
“We’ve already seen in some communities that we cannot sit by and simply assume that new technologies will necessarily be better for consumers than what they have now. If a technology transition causes people to lose reliability, accessibility, affordability, or support for services like internet access, heart monitors, and credit card processors, then the Commission must step in to ensure the tech transitions are a step forward for everyone.”
Members of the media may contact Communications Director Shiva Stella with inquiries, interview requests, or to join the Public Knowledge press list at shiva@publicknowledge.org or 405-249-9435.