The FCC updated its rules, and proposed additional updates, to improve communications network reliability, resiliency, and transparency during disasters and outages.
The rule changes will increase participation in, and enhance the use of, the FCC’s Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS), in which service providers report on their operational status during emergencies. This operational data informs service restoration efforts during disasters, when it is vital for first responders and the public to maintain communications.
Specific communication service providers must continuously submit reports of network disruptions to the FCC's Network Outage Reporting System (NORS). In times of disaster, the FCC may activate the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) to enhance situational awareness, inform public safety authorities and the public about service disruptions, and aid in restoring services. However, participation in DIRS by the industry is optional, leading to potential gaps in information that can hinder emergency responses. Additionally, NORS also faces information gaps as not all communication providers are mandated to participate.
The new rules:
- Require cable communications, wireline, wireless, and interconnected VoIP providers to report daily infrastructure status information when DIRS is activated for geographic areas in which they provide service.
- Suspend NORS reporting obligations when providers are required to report in DIRS during a disaster, so they are not obligated to report twice.
- Require DIRS filers to provide a single, final summary DIRS report to the Commission within 24 hours of the deactivation of DIRS.
The Commission is also seeking comment on:
- Whether to require TV and radio broadcasters, satellite providers, and broadband Internet access service (BIAS) providers to report in NORS and/or DIRS.
- The extent to which the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) should be subject to NORS and/or DIRS reporting.
- Whether providers should be required to supply the Commission with after-action reports detailing how their networks fared during the emergency or disaster event.
- Whether providers should be required to report the location of mobile recovery assets during a disaster response, as well other specifications of those assets.
https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-acts-improve-network-reliability-during-disasters-0
