“What if I told you that the world was running out of postal addresses or phone numbers, and that, in less than two months, many companies you regularly do business with will have a new system of contact information? You’d want to learn more about this system and perhaps make a few preparations, right? Such a big transition is not happening for postal addresses or phone numbers, but something close to that is happening for Internet addresses.”

And so begins an excellent blog post from the CTO of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Henning Schulzrinne, about the impending World IPv6 Launch on June 6, 2012 and what people need to do to check their IPv6 readiness. While he points out that all current web addresses will work after June 6, he points out very clearly why consumers and businesses need to care about IPv6:

“However, as IPv4 addresses run out, most new websites and online services will have IPv6 addresses that can only be accessed if you have your computer or network equipment is prepared. In addition, the performance, reliability and security of the Internet and online services (such as video streaming and IP telephony) may slowly degrade unless most web traffic and network equipment is made compatible with IPv6. Finally, as new IPv4 addresses become harder and harder to get, new businesses, from providers of content and services to new ISPs, will find it more difficult to get started and compete with established firms unless they utilize IPv6.”

He also points out a new guide for consumers published by the FCC: “Internet Protocol Version 6: IPv6 for Consumers.”

It’s excellent to see this support for World IPv6 Launch coming out of the FCC and definitely thank Henning Schulzrinne for this advocacy of the transition to IPv6!