The Impact of Technology Transitions on Rural Communities

National Rural Assembly’s Rural Broadband Policy Group, the Center for Rural Strategies, and Public Knowledge
May 12, 2015
02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
https://www.publicknowledge.org/events/the-impact-of-technology-transiti...

The panel will address the following issue areas:

Network Resiliency (Backup Power, 911 connectivity, additional devices)
Copper wires are able to carry electricity, which allows telephones to continue to work during a power outage. This characteristic makes the traditional phone network resilient, particularly during emergencies and natural disasters when Americans need it most. Today, new technologies (fiber, wireless, VoIP) do not carry their own electricity, and some cannot guarantee a connection to 911 or additional devices such as medical alarms, home alarms, and ATMs. In addition, the new technologies might require consumers to be responsible for securing backup power.

Speaker: The Broadband Alliance of Mendocino County, Laytonville, California

Service Availability (State bills, 214(a) Process)
A change in technologies could change the services available to consumers. A provider might want to stop using its copper lines and offer wireless or Internet-based voice services. But, many rural consumers live in areas with spotty cellphone reception or where Internet service is not available. Retiring copper lines has been a central focus of both state legislation and the Federal Communications Commission’s Tech Transitions efforts. What process should a carrier follow if it wants to retire its copper lines? What services will be in place for rural consumers if their carrier decides to change technologies?

Speakers: Mimi Pickering, Appalshop, Kentucky; Jodie Griffin, Public Knowledge, Washington, D.C.

Rural Call Completion
In an effort to find the most cost-effective approach to complete calls to and from rural areas, some providers resorted to offshoring “call completion” responsibility to IP-based contractors who did not actually complete the calls. Transitioning to an IP-based technology could revive issues with rural call completion.

Speaker: Regina Costa, The Utility Reform Network (TURN), California

Consumer Education
Most consumers do not know what technology their telephone carrier uses to bring service to their home or business. Educating all consumers about the benefits, challenges, and responsibilities they will acquire as our telephone network transitions must be a multi-stakeholder conversation amongst policymakers, telecommunications providers, the FCC, state agencies, and public interest groups.

Speaker: Whitney Kimball-Coe, National Rural Assembly, Kentucky

Affordable Broadband
53% of rural areas (22 million rural Americans) do not have access to broadband service. As broadband becomes a necessary technology to maintain voice service, we must collaborate to make it available and affordable to all Americans. What tools do the federal government and FCC have at their disposal to expand broadband access in rural communities? Hear from a Lifeline phone service subscriber about how this program could help bring affordable broadband to all Americans.

Speaker: Sharell Harmon, YouthBuild North Central (Elkins, WV)

Moderator: Edyael Casaperalta, Coordinator of the Rural Broadband Policy Group and Internet Rights Fellow at Public Knowledge.

Sponsored by The Honorable Jared Huffman