FCC Chairman Wheeler Recuses Self from AT&T IP Trials Decision

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Federal Communications Commission chairman Tom Wheeler said he is recusing himself from the AT&T IP transition trials decision. Chairman Wheeler is a former board member at EarthLink, which has petitioned the FCC to participate in the AT&T trials.

He pointed out that there is plenty of other IP transition work to be done, and that he will be involved in.

In an update on AT&T's proposal to test retirement of traditional circuit-switched service in two wire centers -- in Alabama and Florida -- FCC staffers said at the June public meeting that the commission would employ a third party to insure no bias in the tests. They said that AT&T had agreed to work collaboratively with the commission.

The FCC has approved a framework for the AT&T tests, but has not provided final approval, which will depend on answers to a variety of questions, like how it will support legacy services like 911, health monitoring, credit card processing, and fax services with the new fiber and wireless replacement services.

Also a point of concern is how the replacement services will support Government Emergency Telecommunications Services (GETS), which allows public safety calls to get through when others can't.


FCC Chairman Wheeler Recuses Self from AT&T IP Trials Decision June 2014 Open Commission Meeting (FCC) Technology Transitions Update: Service-Based Experiments (See FCC presentation) Statement of Commissioner Mignon L. Clyburn Technology Transitions Presentation (FCC) Statement Of Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel (FCC) Statement Of Commissioner Ajit Pai On The IP Transition Presentation (FCC)