Federal Communications Commission	DA 21-1483


Before the
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554


In the Matter of

Resilient Networks

Amendments to Part 4 of the Commission’s Rules Concerning Disruptions to Communications

New Part 4 of the Commission’s Rules Concerning Disruptions to Communications

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PS Docket No. 21-346

PS Docket No. 15-80


ET Docket No. 04-35


ORDER GRANTING EXTENSION OF TIME


Adopted:  November 30, 2021	Released:  November 30, 2021

Comment Date: December 16, 2021
Reply Comment Date:  January 14, 2022

By the Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau:

1. By this Order, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) grants a Motion filed by the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) seeking an extension of 10 days to file comments and reply comments in the above-captioned proceeding. Motion of Edison Electric Institute for Extension of Time, PS Docket Nos. 21-346 and 15-80, ET Docket No. 04-35 (filed Nov. 19, 2021), https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/1119849613742/EEI%20Motion%20for%20Extension%20of%20Time%20--%20FCC%20Resilient%20Networks%20NPRM%20PS%20Docket%20Nos.%2021-346%2015-80%20and%20ET%20Docket%20No.%2004-35.pdf (Motion).
  For the reasons stated below, PSHSB finds that EEI’s request is warranted and thus extends the comment and reply comment dates to December 16, 2021 and January 14, 2022, respectively.

2. On September 30, 2021, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on proposed rules to improve communications reliability during disasters. Resilient Networks; Amendments to Part 4 of the Commission’s Rules Concerning Disruptions to Communications; New Part 4 of the Commission’s Rules Concerning Disruptions to Communications, PS Docket Nos. 21-346 and 1580; ET Docket No. 04-35, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 21-99, 2021 WL 4735497 (2021) (NPRM). 
  The NPRM seeks comment on the wireless industry's disaster response framework, the Commission’s network outage reporting rules, and strategies to reduce the impact of power outages on communications networks. Id.
  On November 5, 2021, the Office of the Federal Register published a summary of the NPRM indicating that comments must be filed on or before December 6, 2021 and reply comments must be filed on or before January 4, 2022. See Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Comment and Reply Comment Dates for the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Resilient Networks,  PS Docket Nos. 21-346 and 1580; ET Docket No. 04-35, Public Notice, DA 21-1388, 2021 WL 5179565 (PSHSB Nov. 5, 2021)
 
3. On November 19, 2021, EEI filed the Motion to request a 10-day extension of the comment and reply comment filing deadlines, to December 16, 2021 and January 14, 2022, respectively. Motion at 1. 
  EEI states that these deadlines should be extended “to ensure that there is sufficient time to conduct consultations with respective member companies to prepare reasoned comments and reply comments that meaningfully address the broad range of issues presented by the NPRM.” Id. at 2.
  EEI notes that November 25th is the Thanksgiving holiday and that that the Christmas and New Year’s holidays are on December 25th and January 1st, respectively, and that “this is a period when many organizations are closed and vacations are taken.” Id. at 3.
  EEI states that, without an extension, it would be challenging to “build industry consensus before submitting comments.” Id. 
  EEI contends that an extension of 10 days will not result in any meaningful delay in the proceeding and will result in more focused and better reasoned comments. Id.
  EEI represents that CTIA, NCTA - The Internet and Television Association, and USTelecom – The Broadband Association support the Motion and that the National Association of Broadcasters has no objections to it. Id. at n.3.
  No opposition to the Motion has been filed.
4. We grant a 10-day extension of time to file comments and reply comments in this proceeding.  As set forth in section 1.46 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR § 1.46.
 the Commission does not routinely grant extensions of time for filing comments.  In this case, however, the extension is unopposed, limited to only ten days, and will allow commenters sufficient time to file meaningful comment and reply comments given the intervening holidays.  We therefore grant EEI’s unopposed Motion and extend the comment and reply comment deadlines to December 16, 2021 and January 14, 2022, respectively.
5. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to section 4(i)-(j) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. § 154(i)-(j), and sections 0.204, 0.392, and 1.46 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR §§ 0.204, 0.392, 1.46, the Motion for Extension of Time filed by EEI is GRANTED.
6. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the date to file comments and reply comments in response to the NPRM ARE EXTENDED to December 16, 2021 and January 14, 2022, respectively.

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION




Lisa M. Fowlkes
Chief
Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau


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