Commissioner Trusty Statement on Network Improvements and Service Changes

FCC Headlines

Published March 26th, 2026

Detected March 28th, 2026

Summary

FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty issued a statement on a Report and Order regarding the IP transition, aiming to reduce barriers to network improvements and service changes. The order seeks to balance innovation with consumer protection and public safety, particularly concerning 911 services.

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What changed

FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty's statement discusses a new Report and Order (WC Docket Nos. 25-209 and 25-208) that aims to streamline the IP transition by removing outdated regulations that hinder the deployment of advanced communications services. This "smart deregulation" approach seeks to provide greater clarity and predictability for service providers while preserving essential consumer protections and ensuring robust connectivity, especially for 911 services. The order mandates coordination with 911 authorities and key service providers before filing service discontinuance requests.

Telecommunications firms will need to review and adapt to the updated regulatory landscape, particularly concerning network modernization and service changes. While the order promotes innovation, entities must ensure continued compliance with consumer protection mandates and public safety requirements, including the new coordination protocols for service discontinuance. The effective date of the rule is March 26, 2026, and compliance with the new coordination requirements is expected thereafter.

What to do next

Review the FCC's Report and Order (WC Docket Nos. 25-209 and 25-208) for specific requirements related to network modernization and service changes.
Ensure coordination with 911 authorities and key service providers prior to filing any service discontinuance requests.
Update internal compliance procedures to reflect the FCC's approach to "smart deregulation" while maintaining consumer and public safety protections.

Source document (simplified)

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Federal Communications Commission FCC 26-19**

Statement of

Commissioner Olivia Trusty

Re: Reducing Barriers to Network Improvements and Service Changes; Accelerating Network and Service Modernization, WC Docket Nos. 25-209 and 25-208, Report and Order (March 26, 2026).

Like few other areas of communications policy, the IP transition brings together a range of issues, including: connectivity, innovation, public safety, and consumer protection. Addressing any one aspect requires the Commission to remain mindful of the broader ecosystem. Even as we look to the future, and the foundation for advanced technologies, like artificial intelligence, that same principle applies, requiring a focus on sustained innovation, robust and resilient connectivity, and a commonsense approach to regulation. That is the balance the Commission is striving to achieve in the IP transition.

This approach, sometimes described as “smart deregulation,” involves removing outdated or unduly burdensome requirements that hinder the deployment of advanced communications services, while preserving core protections for consumers, public safety, and national security.

Building on the Wireline Competition Bureau’s initial efforts, this item provides greater clarity and predictability for service providers navigating technology transitions, while preserving opportunities for stakeholders to raise concerns in the rare cases where issues may arise.

I appreciate this item highlighting the tools Americans rely upon to access emergency assistance, foremost among them, the ability to call 911. As networks evolve, ensuring reliable 911 connectivity must remain a top priority. I am pleased this item takes steps to require coordination with 911 authorities and key service providers before a service discontinuance request is filed, helping to keep public safety front of mind throughout the transition.

The IP transition holds tremendous promise for consumers and will position the United States to lead globally in new communications technologies and services. As we move from legacy networks to next-generation infrastructure, protecting existing consumer interests along the way is key to expanding our innovation capacity and delivering the economic benefits of these technology developments to all Americans. I look forward to continuing to work with Commission staff, industry, and stakeholders to strike the right balance. And I thank the Wireline Competition Bureau for their hard work on this important item.