Utilities, Telecom Groups Back More Disaster Coordination, Stress Different Actions
Electric utilities and telecom groups sought further coordination to improve wireless network resiliency and restoration from disasters. "Communications providers should continue hardening their infrastructure and designing networks to avoid single points of failure, said Edison Electric Institute and other utility…
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interests, as replies were posted Tuesday in FCC docket 11-60. They said the FCC "should promote best practices to address communications network back-up power deficiencies" and engage regularly with state and local authorities and other stakeholders, and encourage communications providers do likewise. They want more utility industry seats on the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee. Most initial commenters (see 1902110034) "agree the best forum for improved coordination between communications providers and power companies is the local emergency operations center [(EOC)] level," said American Electric Power and Southern Co. They disputed wireless pushback to the need to improve back-up power. CTIA said commenters "widely support enhancing cooperative efforts, at the local level and through the BDAC" and Department of Homeland Security. It backs "a flexible approach to resilience" that has "proven effective," though it acknowledged "restoration efforts were challenging" for communications providers and power companies after "recent historic hurricanes." USTelecom said coordination between communications and electric companies "runs deep," and to the extent more is needed, "continue those discussions in existing venues at the Commission and within other government partners." Noting wireline telcos provide wireless backhaul, USTelecom agreed communications companies may be able to enhance coordination with state EOCs but disputed "any suggestion that our sector does not work together in disaster recovery." The American Cable Association said a cooperative resiliency framework for backhaul providers isn't needed. "Modest improvements" in coordination between power and communications providers "would enhance disaster resiliency," ACA said.