Media Contact: 
Rochelle Cohen, (202) 418-1162
rochelle.cohen@fcc.gov

For Immediate Release

FCC PROPOSES TO SHARE COMMUNICATIONS OUTAGE INFORMATION WITH OTHER FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES
Proposal Aimed to Support More Effective Restoration Efforts During Disasters
  -- 
WASHINGTON, February 28, 2020—The Federal Communications Commission today proposed a framework for sharing detailed communications outage information with state and federal agencies to improve their situational awareness, enhance their ability to respond more quickly to outages affecting their communities, and help save lives, while also preserving the confidentiality of this data.  

The Commission supports the nation's emergency response and preparedness efforts by collecting and providing accurate and timely information on the status of communications services and infrastructure through its Network Outage Reporting System (NORS) and Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS).  During disasters, the Commission makes this information available to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which uses it to assess the needs of affected areas and to coordinate emergency response efforts with state and local first responders. 

The Commission’s experience with recent major outages—from the 2017 hurricanes, tornados, and flooding to power shutdowns in California and earthquakes in Puerto Rico—underscore the value of reliable and timely outage information to the rapid restoration of disrupted communications and the crucial role that state and other government agencies play in that restoration.  In a Second Further of Notice of Proposed Rulemaking adopted today, the Commission therefore proposed to provide direct, read-only access to NORS and DIRS filings to qualified agencies of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Tribal nations, territories, and federal government that reasonably require the information to prepare for or respond to an event that threatens public safety.  

The Commission’s proposal would allow participating agencies to share NORS and DIRS information with first responders and other government officials who play a vital public safety role in their jurisdictions during crises.  Participating agencies would also be allowed to publicly disclose information that is appropriately aggregated and anonymized.  

To protect sensitive communications status data, participating agencies would be required to treat NORS and DIRS filings as confidential.  In addition, the Commission proposed an application process that would grant agencies access to this information only after certifying to requirements for maintaining the confidentiality of the data and the security of the databases. 

Action by the Commission February 28, 2020 by Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 20-20).  Chairman Pai, Commissioners O’Rielly and Carr approving.  Commissioners Rosenworcel and Starks dissenting.  Chairman Pai, Commissioners O’Rielly, Carr, Rosenworcel, and Starks issuing separate statements.

PS Docket No. 15-80

###

Media Relations: (202) 418-0500 / ASL: (844) 432-2275 / TTY: (888) 835-5322 / Twitter: @FCC / www.fcc.gov 

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).