CTIA—The Wireless Association and the Edison Electric Institute are establishing a cross-sector resiliency forum to improve coordination between the wireless and electric power sectors to strengthen disaster response. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai urged such cooperation to prevent the problem of telecom restoration work after a disaster being undone by electrical work.
“Americans need reliable communications service during emergencies.
But as the FCC’s investigation into the slow pace of wireless service restoration after Hurricane Michael revealed, and last fall’s power shutoffs in California underscored, a lack of effective coordination between the electric power and communications sectors prolongs and increases the scope of communications outages,” said Pai.
He said the “coordination problem” was also starkly evident in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria, when the electric utility did not provide needed information to the communications sector for disaster recovery. “I therefore commend CTIA and the Edison Electric Institute for heeding my call for greater coordination and announcing an initiative to address this challenge before the next wildfire and hurricane seasons begin. I look forward to monitoring the progress of this necessary and important effort in the coming months.”
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