PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
DA 11-1958
Released: November 30, 2011
FCC WORKSHOPS ON THE TELEPHONE 
NETWORK IN TRANSITION
The Federal Communications Commission is holding two workshops to examine the transition from the 
public switched telephone network (PSTN) to new technologies.  Circuit-switched wireline voice 
technology has created a high standard for reliability, accessibility, and ubiquity.  Consumers will 
continue to expect and demand these qualities, even as they shift from PSTN services to services provided 
over different networks.  The transition away from the PSTN is already occurring, and is likely to 
accelerate. Through these workshops, the Commission will seek input on the technical, economic, and 
policy issues that must be addressed to minimize disruption during this transition, and to protect 
consumers, public safety, competition, and other important interests.  
The first workshop, on December 6, 2011, will focus on what obstacles and opportunities the transition 
may create regarding public safety, accessibility, and ubiquitous service.  The workshop will also attempt 
to identify and evaluate the types of non-carrier stranded assets (such as alarm monitoring systems) that 
would be left after the transition.  
The second workshop, on December 14, 2011, will examine a wide array of economic, technological, and 
policy issues that need to be addressed as consumers choose to subscribe to, and rely on, new 
technologies and services.
DECEMBER 6, 2011 WORKSHOP 
9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
Welcome Remarks by Julius Genachowski, Chairman, FCC
9:10 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.
The Impact of Broadband Communications on Public Safety and Network Reliability
Participants include:
· Allan Sadowski, North Carolina State Highway Patrol
· Stagg Newman, Pisgah Comm Consulting
· Bill Price, State of Florida, Director of Broadband Programs
· Brian Fontes, National Emergency Number Association
· Jon Peha, Carnegie Mellon University
Moderator:  Jennifer Manner, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, FCC
10:10 a.m. – 11:10 p.m.
Disability Access in Substitute Services 
Participants include:
· Jenifer Simpson, Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT)
· Paul Schroeder, American Foundation for the Blind
· Mark Uncapher, Telecommunications Industry Association
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· Norman Williams, Gallaudet University
· Matthew Gerst, CTIA – The Wireless Association
Moderator: Gregory Hlibok, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, FCC
11:10 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.
Technical Capacity, Capabilities, and Challenges Facing Future Rural Networks
Participants include:
· Erwin C. Hudson, ViaSat, Inc.
· Steven K. Berry, Rural Cellular Association
· Jack Unger, Wireless Internet Service Providers Association 
· Larry D. Thompson, Vantage Point Solutions
· Tom Simmons, Midcontinent Communications
· John T. McHugh, Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small 
Telecommunications Companies (OPASTCO)
Moderators:  Jim Schlichting, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, FCC, and Commissioner Anne 
C. Boyle, Nebraska Public Service Commission
12:10 p.m. – 1:10 p.m.
Identifying, Evaluating, and Transitioning Key PSTN Edge Functionalities (e.g., alarm monitoring, 
medical devices, and consumer equipment)
Participants include:
· Brian Daly, AT&T
· Harold Feld, Public Knowledge
· Stephen Hudek, Vonage
· Bill Belt, Consumer Electronics Association 
· Venkatesh Basapur, Telcordia Technologies
· Richard Hinkson, Honeywell Security
Moderator: Walter Johnston, Office of Engineering and Technology, FCC
DECEMBER 14, 2011 WORKSHOP
9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
Welcome Remarks by Zachary Katz, Chief Counsel and Senior Legal Advisor, Office of the 
Chairman, FCC
9:40 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Impact of the Transition on the Technology and Economics of the PSTN
Participants include:
· Dale Hatfield, University of Colorado
· Jon Peha, Carnegie Mellon
· Gerald Brock, George Washington University
· William Lehr, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
· Joe Gillan, Gillan Associates
· Richard Shockey, SIP Forum
Moderators: Paul de Sa and Marius Schwartz, Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis, 
FCC
10:45 a.m. – 11:45 p.m.
Policies of the PSTN (e.g., accessibility, reliability, affordability, and public safety)
Participants include:
· Carolyn Gideon, Tufts University
· Mark Cooper, Consumer Federation of America
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· Gregg C. Vanderheiden, University of Wisconsin
· Tom McGarry, Neustar
Moderators: Sharon Gillett, Wireline Competition Bureau, FCC, and Commissioner Geoffrey G. 
Why, Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Cable
Break for Lunch
1:00 p.m. – 2:10 p.m.
Implementing the Transition to New Networks
Participants include:
· David Young, Verizon
· John D. Schanz, Comcast
· Marvin A. Sirbu, Carnegie Mellon
· Douglas Sicker, National Telecommunications and Information Association (NTIA)
· Randy Nicklas, XO Communications
Moderator:  Henning Schulzrinne, Engineering Fellow, Public Safety and Homeland Security 
Bureau, FCC, and Columbia University
2:10 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.
Syncing Expectations, Emerging Technologies and the Public Good
Participants include:
· John W. Mayo, Georgetown University
· W. Russell Neuman, University of Michigan
· Kevin Werbach, University of Pennsylvania – Wharton
· Donald Troshynski, Acme Packet
· Bill Taylor, Panasonic Systems Networks
Moderators: Daniel Kirschner, Office of the General Counsel, FCC, and Shahid Ahmed, Accenture 
3:20 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Economic Rationales for PSTN Transition
Participants include:
· David J. Gabel, Queens College
· Barbara Cherry, Indiana University
· Lee W. McKnight, Syracuse University
· Craig Moffett, Sanford Bernstein
· Fernando Beltran, University of Auckland, NZ and FCC Visiting Scholar
Moderators: Paul de Sa and Marius Schwartz, Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis, 
FCC
The workshops will be held at the FCC Commission Meeting Room, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, 
DC, 20554 and streamed live at http://www.fcc.gov/live.  Reasonable accommodations for people with 
disabilities are available upon request.  The request should include a detailed description of the 
accommodation needed and contact information.  We ask that requests for accommodations be made as 
soon as possible in order to allow the agency to satisfy such requests whenever possible.  Send an email 
to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-
418-0432 (TTY).
Pre-registration is available but not required.  Please send your RSVP to PSTNdec6@fcc.gov for the 
December 6th Workshop, and to PSTNdec14@fcc.gov for the December 14th Workshop.  The workshops 
will be webcast on www.fcc.gov/live.  Audience members watching online may submit questions to 
panelists by e-mailing livequestions@fcc.gov or on Twitter using #FCCLIVE.
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For further information, contact Cindy Spiers or Claude Aiken of the Wireline Competition Bureau at 
(202) 418-1580, or via e-mail at cindy.spiers@fcc.gov or claude.aiken@fcc.gov.
-FCC-