AT&T Says CTIA Seeks Preferential Treatment in Emergencies
AT&T accused CTIA of trying to gain special privileges for wireless carriers, in its comments on a rulemaking released with the final report of the Independent Panel Reviewing the Impact of Hurricane Katrina on Communications Networks. AT&T also took issue with NENA’s contention that all 911 system service providers should be required to analyze the redundancy of their 911 networks and tell the FCC about possible gaps.
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AT&T charged in reply comments in the Katrina docket that some commenters wanted to “advance their own business interests” rather than improve disaster response. AT&T slammed a CTIA request that wireless carriers receive priority in restoration of electricity and landline service to their facilities during disasters. “CTIA fails to demonstrate, however, why its members should be accorded any higher priority in responding to natural or man-made disasters than wireline carriers that serve critical government and other installations and tens of millions of other business and residential subscribers,” AT&T said. “The Commission should decline CTIA’s gambit to allow its members to ‘muscle their way to the head of the line’ ahead of wireline carriers or other telecommunications providers.”
AT&T said NENA was well intentioned but wrong. Making 911 service providers report on gaps could prove dangerous, AT&T said: “Requiring the unnecessary further dissemination of this information could have serious adverse consequences for service providers, for whom those proprietary data have substantial competitive value, and for the general public if that information is compromised and comes into possession of persons and groups with criminal intentions.”
In its comments, the Southern Co. electric utility warned the FCC that communications providers shouldn’t get special treatment in power restoration. Doing so “would only serve to delay the restoration of electric power to first responders, other critical needs customers and communications providers.”
The United Telecom Council said that though the FCC should coordinate with other federal agencies and encourage coordination among all emergency responders on communications issues, the agency mustn’t overreach. “UTC cautions the Commission against moving beyond its authority and expertise in its efforts to improve disaster recovery efforts,” the group said. Verizon also called on the FCC to exercise caution. The Bell said the agency can do more good by improving coordination than by launching a rulemaking “that has the potential, however inadvertent, to generate uncertainty, confusion, or potentially conflicting directives.”