Telephone voice networks in the United States will soon make the shift from copper to IP. The change from traditional copper networks to IP networks will allow for more reliable telephone service, particularly in disaster situations. However, the FCC is concerned that the shift could eliminate some of the competition in voice networks. According to PC World, the government commission will propose new rules aimed at maintaining the current levels of competition and protecting consumer choice.

The move from copper networks to IP is probably overdue. Because copper-based networks supply both power and voice service to connected telephones, they are not as reliable as they should be. For instance, during power outages, copper networks leave customers unable to make calls. The FCC has also tracked an “unprecedented” number of 911 service outages this year, many of them the result of troubles with copper networks.

VoIP calling is markedly more reliable, in part because power and service are provided separately. This means that customers on IP fiber networks can make calls during power outages or natural disasters, even though copper networks would be more or less knocked out. IP networks will also reportedly make it possible for 911 call centers to receive texts and other types of communications. In short, fiber-based networks are the right technological choice for telephone networks in this day and age.

By almost all measures, IP networks are superior to copper ones. However, the FCC is concerned about losing consumer choice in the transition. PC World describes the issue like this: current rules for copper networks require “large telephone carriers” to share “last-mile networks with competitors.” This sharing generates competition and creates more consumer options for telephone service. The last-mile network sharing rule protects small-business customers in particular.

A move to IP networks would eliminate this network sharing rule, since it currently only applies to copper network infrastructure. The FCC, though, wants to stop any issues before they begin by proposing a new last-mile rule for IP networks. The new rule would essentially be the same thing as the old one, but would apply to IP networks instead of copper ones. The FCC believes that the rule would help keep competition and consumer choice alive in telephone networks.