What's In a Pilot Program?

[Commentary] As the conversation about the phone network transition to Internet Protocol (IP)-based technologies continues, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is figuring out how to construct pilot programs to collect data about certain aspects of the transition.

We at Public Knowledge have emphasized how this transition must be a step forward--not a step backward--for everyone. That applies just as much to the proposed pilot programs as it does to the overall transition. The FCC's pilot programs must first and foremost protect the everyday Americans who use the network for business, to communicate with loved ones, and to call 911 during emergencies. These trials can't become a vehicle to circumvent the broader policy debate over the transition and leave consumers worse off. That is why the FCC should continue on its course to constructing carefully circumscribed trials that gather specific data and put consumers first. After all, the entire point of this transition is to build new networks that serve everyday Americans better than the old networks did. We must all demand that our phone network continue to be a network you can count on at every step along the way.