RSSThe FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) is seeking comment on recent efforts by mobile wireless service providers (WISPs) to improve network resiliency.
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The information will be used to inform a report that Congress directed the FCC to put together in an explanatory statement that accompanied the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. That report is due by June 25. The statement expressed concern “about the resiliency of wireless phone networks during natural disasters, including wildfires.”
The FCC said it is seeking updated information on specific measures mobile service providers have taken in recent years to improve response readiness and network resiliency during natural disasters.
Specifically, the FCC seeks comment on steps wireless mobile providers have taken to ensure resiliency, including but not limited to backup power in areas prone to planned power outages to mitigate wildfires; pre-storm staging processes; roaming agreements that can be activated quickly following a natural disaster; effective coordination with power companies, municipalities and backhaul providers; diversification of backhaul options in disaster-prone areas; availability of deployable network assets; network infrastructure sharing among operators during natural disasters; and communicating disaster-related information with customers, particularly members of vulnerable populations.
The FCC also seeks comment on cost and benefit issues associated with implementing measures to maintain and improve resiliency of mobile wireless networks. The PSHSB said it intends to use the responses to update the FCC’s records on wireless resiliency and help guide the report to Congress.
Comments will be due 20 days after the publication of the notice in the Federal Register. Find the full notice here.
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