Principles for a Successful IP Transition: Innovation

High-quality networks across the country will ensure that people in all communities have the ability to create, invent, and use products and services that can enhance our world. Broad access to high speed IP networks is essential to making sure technology continues to evolve. Just as important, however, is ensuring that a regulatory regime is in place that allows development of the next big thing to continue unabated. For consumers, the promise of the IP transition is new services and ways to collaborate and communicate that are better and more advanced than current basic telephone communications. The loss of the public switched telephone network (PSTN) would take away a vehicle that many competitive carriers have used to kick start new technologies since incumbent wireline providers are required to lease the network out to other providers. Fiber and licensed wireless networks have no such requirements, which might make it more difficult for innovators to create. This explains why some stakeholders believe that new requirements for IP networks will be needed to ensure continued technological innovation. A lack of innovation could result in fewer providers in the market and higher prices for consumers.