Commission Approves Priority Services Rules Amid Questions of Relevance
FCC Commissioners approved modernizing telecom service priority (TSP), wireless priority service (WPS) and government emergency telecommunications service (GETS) rules 4-0 Thursday, largely as circulated by Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, as expected (see 2205170068). The changes weren't controversial, with no ex parte filings when they were before commissioners. Public Safety Bureau Chief Debra Jordan confirmed on a call with reporters there were no substantial changes to the draft.
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Rosenworcel tied the rules to the wildfires hitting New Mexico. “During the last 10 years we have seen more than 60 wildfires over 100,000 acres in size in the United States,” she said during the commissioners' meeting: “We need clear plans to restore public safety communications when disasters like these strike. With wildfires increasing, hurricane season around the bend, and other natural disasters likely to visit us in the future, the time to update these plans is now.”
Rosenworcel said there has been a 100% call completion rate for the “more than two dozen” WPS calls placed in New Mexico during this fire season.
Asked about the low number of WPS calls Rosenworcel mentioned, Jordan said those calls were made “over a short period, just a couple of weeks” this month. The order could lead to a “renewed interest” in WPS, she said. “There may or may not have been congestion” in New Mexico, which could explain the number of calls made using WPS, she said.
“Maybe this proceeding is a good time for us to get a fundamental refresh and look,” Commissioner Brendan Carr told reporters. Carr doesn’t expect broad use of WPS or the other programs. “These are supposed to be things you use in sort of 9/11-style situations” when there's extreme network traffic and “a handful of people need to be put to the top of queue,” he said.
The revised rules clarify that “service providers’ authorization to prioritize data, video, and IP-based voice services for eligible users on a voluntary basis,” said a news release. They remove “outdated requirements that may cause confusion or impede the use of IP-based technologies” and update “the rules to reflect the current administrative responsibilities for the priority services program.”
The order expands eligibility for the WPS program, at the discretion of carriers, to all national security and emergency preparedness personnel, as defined in a presidential directive handed down under President Barack Obama. That would include workers in a broad number of industries, including communications, energy and healthcare.
“We know that another hurricane season is coming,” said Commissioner Geoffrey Starks: “What we need to know is that the backbone of our defense, national security and emergency preparedness personnel, can utilize any available technology during any emergency to engage in any critical communication.” The changes update the rules “to cover next-generation communications technology,” he said. “The revised rules will increase emergency personnel's flexibility when communicating, and improve the efficiency of those communications during and after national security threats,” he said.
“It has been two decades since these rules were initially adopted and a lot has happened,” said Commissioner Nathan Simington. “Not only have circuit-switched voice networks given way to IP-based phone networks, but an increased number of vital services are offered as over-the-top internet applications,” he said.
“It is critical that America’s national security and emergency preparedness personnel, including first responders, can communicate reliably and effectively during emergencies,” Jordan said. “While priority service programs have worked well historically,” FCC rules “have not been updated for more than 20 years,” she said.
“Today’s decision updates existing rules on priority access and clarifies previous language on those eligible to use priority services” and “will enable public safety responders to have improved communications options in times of emergencies,” emailed Brian Fontes, CEO of the National Emergency Number Association.