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 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.

This workshop is scheduled for Tuesday December 6, 2011, in the morning.

The second workshop 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.

This workshop is scheduled for Wednesday December 14, 2011, in the morning and afternoon.

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 [email protected] or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY).

For further information, contact Cindy Spiers or Claude Aiken of the Wireline Competition Bureau at (202) 418-1580, or via e-mail at [email protected] or [email protected].