NYC Says Voluntary Wireless Cooperative Framework Isn't Enough; CTIA Disagrees
New York City told the FCC a voluntary wireless network resiliency cooperative framework isn’t enough to ensure network resilience. CTIA said it's working as expected. Both filed replies on a June Public Safety Bureau public notice in docket 11-60. The wireless industry developed the framework with an eye toward enabling carriers to work together to let customers roam on each other’s networks after a disaster like 2012’s Superstorm Sandy (see 1604270035).
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“The record demonstrates" the framework "enhanced the ability of consumers to access wireless services that proved critical during the historic 2017 hurricane season,” CTIA said. “Steps taken pursuant to the Wireless Cooperative Framework, and the flexibility afforded by the Framework, contributed to the resiliency and restoration of mobile wireless networks in 2017.” CTIA argued for flexibility. “Continue to take a flexible, outcome-based approach to assessing wireless resiliency efforts, including the use and effectiveness of the Wireless Cooperative Framework, rather than develop rigid numerical metrics,” it sought.
ATIS said the FCC should allow industry to continue voluntary efforts to develop a public safety answering point database. Given industry approval, and recent publication of a PSAP notification template and associated report, “ATIS is confident this collaborative effort will be successful,” the group said.
A voluntary, self-regulatory framework “is not sufficiently viable in such a critical area as wireless network resiliency,” New York City said. “We welcome the opportunity to work with wireless carriers and other local government representatives to achieve better preparedness and cooperation and will continue to do so in order to maintain and restore wireless service continuity.” That the city is working with carriers “should not be construed as an endorsement of the overall wireless network resiliency framework, and does not bind the City to adoption of said best practices,” it said.
The American Public Works Association said the FCC should include APWA members in discussions of the framework. “Like other first responders during the 2017 hurricane and wildfire season, public works professionals in many cases were called upon to be the first on the scene and likewise the last to depart,” APWA said.