PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 14-582 April 30, 2014 FCC ANNOUNCES WORKSHOP ON 911 RELIABILITY CERTIFICATION PROCESS PS Docket Nos. 13-75, 11-60 By this Public Notice, the Federal Communications Commission’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau announces a workshop on the process for submitting annual certifications required under the Commission’s 911 reliability rules. The half-day workshop will be held from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on June 2, 2014, at FCC headquarters in Washington, D.C. In December 2013, the Commission adopted a Report and Order (911 Reliability Order) 1 requiring certain 911 communications providers 2 to take reasonable measures to provide reliable service, as evidenced by an annual certification. Covered entities must certify whether they comply with specified best practices or reasonable alternative measures to mitigate the risk of failure in three areas: (1) critical 911 circuit diversity, (2) backup power for central offices that directly serve a public safety answering point (PSAP), and (3) diverse network monitoring. If a certifying entity relies on alternative measures with respect to a certification element or believes that an element is not applicable to its network, it must provide a brief explanation for its response. 3 The 911 Reliability Order delegated authority to the Bureau to “administer the communications reliability and redundancy rules and policies contained in [47 C.F.R.] Part 12, develop and revise forms and procedures as may be required for the administration of Part 12, [and] review certifications filed in connection therewith.” 4 As part of this process, the Bureau will convene the workshop to seek input from stakeholders regarding the most effective method of collecting certification information. 1 In the Matter of Improving 911 Reliability; Reliability and Continuity of Communications Networks, Including Broadband Technologies, PS Docket Nos. 13-75, 11-60, Report and Order, 28 FCC Rcd 17476 (Dec. 12, 2013), available at http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2013/db1212/FCC-13-158A1.pdf (911 Reliability Order). 2 See 47 C.F.R. § 12.4(a)(4)(i); 911 Reliability Order, 28 FCC Rcd at 17488-89, ¶ 36 (defining entities considered “Covered 911 Service Providers” for purposes of the certification). 3 See 47 C.F.R. § 12.4(c)(1)-(3); 911 Reliability Order, 28 FCC Rcd at 17496-97, ¶¶ 61-63 (discussing elements and effect of certification). 4 47 C.F.R. § 0.392(j); see also 911 Reliability Order, 28 FCC Rcd at 17534, ¶ 163 (directing PSHSB “to develop such forms and procedures as may be required to collect and process certifications,” and “to periodically update those forms and procedures as necessary”). 2The workshop will include a presentation from Bureau staff on the proposed development of the certification process, followed by an interactive question-and-answer session with attendees. Questions include how each certification should be submitted, how certifying entities will indicate and explain alternative measures or claims of non-applicability, and how the Commission can maintain confidentiality of certification information presumed confidential under the rules. 5 Bureau staff also will discuss the role of vendors and third-party service providers where 911 service is delivered over shared or interdependent infrastructure and seek input on how covered entities could indicate such relationships as part of their certifications. The Bureau anticipates creating an email box to permit real-time questions from individuals viewing the workshop via webcast. The workshop is intended to bring together representatives from 911 service providers, public safety agencies and organizations, technology vendors, and other stakeholders to discuss options to collect certification information. The discussion will be limited to the process by which covered entities will submit information required under the 911 Reliability Order and associated Commission rules; it will not revisit the basis or need for those rules or interpret the certification requirements as they relate to specific entities. Additional workshop details will be released closer to the event. The workshop will be free and open to the public and will be held in the Commission Meeting Room (TW-C305) at FCC Headquarters, located at 445 12 th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554. Individuals interested in attending this event must pre-register online at http://transition.fcc.gov/pshs/event-registration.html, where they will be asked to provide their name, title, organization affiliation, and contact information. Individuals may also contact Eric Schmidt at (202) 418-1214 or by email at Eric.Schmidt@fcc.gov regarding pre-registration. The deadline for pre-registration is May 27, 2014. The event will be shown live at www.fcc.gov/live. The audience will have an opportunity to ask questions. Those who watch the live video stream of the event may email event-related questions to livequestions@fcc.gov. Depending on the volume of questions and time constraints, the Bureau will work to respond to as many questions as possible during the workshop. Open captioning will be provided for this event. Other reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities are available upon request. Individuals making such requests must include their contact information should FCC staff need to contact them for more information. Requests should be made as early as possible. Please send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty). For additional information about the workshop, please contact John Healy at (202) 418- 2448 or by email: John.Healy@fcc.gov. For media inquiries, please contact Rochelle Cohen at 5 See 47 C.F.R. § 12.4(d)(2). 3(202) 418-1162 or by email: Rochelle.Cohen@fcc.gov. – FCC –