The progression from DSL and copper networks to fiber and wireless (particularly 5G) is in some ways an inevitability, and may in some places provide remarkable benefits to consumers. But we have long noticed how some telcos are taking advantage of the thought to gut consumer protections and blow off upgrade obligations for networks they received billions in subsidies to construct, driving these unwanted DSL customers to wireless service which could have them paying more cash than ever before for broadband service.

The name of the game is terminating these unwanted users and shoving them toward significantly more lucrative (read: capped and metered) LTE wireless service. Whether this means higher costs for consumers — or the inability for CLECs that are competing to obtain last mile connections — is not of much anxiety to incumbents.

AT&T’s even gone so far as to pay a slew of folks (like Steve Forbes and Rick Boucher) to write editorials circulating in national papers asserting again that if we let AT&T to kill off DSL and POTS lines, we will enter some sort of golden age of telecom investment. Verizon likewise has used natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy as a chance to hang up on DSL — afterward telling users that high-priced wireless is “good enough.”

The trouble with these transitions is that AT&T and Verizon are going to leave these marketplaces with less fixed line broadband competition than ever before. Assuming they are able to get a wireless signal in the house, or even have access to a cable competition.

The “IP transition” needs serious public discussion, and it is perhaps the most significant shift in telecom in thirty years.

As such, the FCC a few years ago voted to approved several trials that took a closer look at the telcos’ retirement of old legacy networks would really affect companies and consumers.

The rules attempt to supply some guidance for the passing of copper, though it is likely you may end up in a position where your cheap DSL line is only replaced with more costly wireless. However, the FCC’s new policy strategy was applauded by groups like Public Knowledge