Due to Virus, FCC Restricts Visitors, Tells Employees to Telework

The commission isn't alone in taking precautions due to COVID-19 spreading. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) declared what she described as "both a state of emergency and a public health emergency."

FTC employees can work remotely, “except for work that absolutely requires a physical presence at the agency,” Chairman Joe Simons advised Thursday. He cited the coronavirus outbreak.

For a roundup of the latest event cancelations, see 2003120070. Also Thursday, the FCC postponed a 5G event: see 2003120071. Wednesday, NAB said it won't go ahead with its annual show in Las Vegas next month: see our report here. Communications Daily is releasing for nonsubscribers some of its coverage of the virus, including reports about the FCC actions here and here. The commission's moves had been expected: See here.

“No visitor will be granted such permission [to enter the building] unless there is a clear operational necessity,” and the policy will remain in effect “for the foreseeable future,” the FCC PN said. “We encourage outside parties with business before the @FCC to work with agency staff to schedule necessary meetings by teleconference,” said Chairman Ajit Pai via Twitter. “These measures will help to provide for the orderly conduct of Government business, while protecting both FCC staff and outside parties.” Pai issued a series of tweets with such details.

It’s not clear what the combination of the visitor restrictions and the telework policy indicates for the March 31 commissioners' meeting. The FCC declined to comment on whether the meeting would be livestream only, and attorneys said complications could arise from the open meeting rules. Lawyers and industry officials expect the coronavirus protective measures to affect the March meeting.

“The Chairman and I want to strongly encourage all telework program participants to telework at home to the maximum extent possible,” said the memo from Berry. Employees who don’t have telework agreements are encouraged to get them, the letter said. All FCC facilities other than the High Frequency Direction Finding Capability Center remain open at the moment, but that could change, the letter said. “Because we do not know how this situation will unfold or its duration, all staff should prepare for the possibility that the building will have to be closed and staff may not be able to enter for some time,” Berry said. “Our goal is that only a very small number of employees should be within the FCC facilities at any given time.”

Social Distancing

Restrictions on visiting the headquarters building and meeting with staff are unlikely to be a huge detriment to FCC licensees with business before the commission, said Fletcher Heald attorney Davina Sashkin, who represents broadcast and wireless clients. Phones and video conferencing mean needed meetings with staff can still take place.

The FCC memo said employees with COVID-19 symptoms should take care of themselves, inform their supervisors and stay out of the office for at least 14 days. The PN and Pai’s tweets said the telework policy was intended to slow the virus’ progress using social distancing, minimizing “congregating at the workplace and on mass transit.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends workplaces use social distance measures to help prevent infection. Experts we interviewed agreed that is a best practice for government agencies. The FCC memo cited the World Health Organization pandemic designation and the rising number of novel coronavirus cases in the U.S. and the Washington metropolitan area as reasons for the telework policy. “The goal for all these measures is preparedness, not panic,” the memo said.

The tack at the FCC and some other agencies seems like the right one because thoroughly cleaning buildings and having them mostly vacant of people should help prevent the infection's spread, said one expert. "The problem is you can't control what people do when they are home" even when they are teleworking, said public health expert, nurse and sociologist Phyllis Meadows. Even outside the office, government employees and others can adhere to social distancing, said Meadows, a Kresge Foundation senior fellow in the Health Program. Many experts have been recommending such distancing, involving keeping several feet away from other people. With agencies' new procedures, "after a certain point, the exposure in the building isn’t going to be the same," said Meadows. Earlier Thursday, the White House announced Meadows was named to the Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats.

Agencies that are mostly shuttered should remember to take precautions for the few who come into work, said American Public Health Association Executive Director Georges Benjamin. Besides having hand sanitizer on hand, he recommended distributing tissues throughout an office building, and considering having water bottles, too. He recommends the "skeleton crew," including APHA's, coming into the office while others work remotely not take mass transit. Generally, the U.S. is "going to follow a trajectory that looks like other nations," said the emergency medicine physician and internist turned public health specialist. "It's going to get worse." Benjamin, also named to the government's new committee, called himself "an optimist. And I believe that we have some control over this."

FTC ​​​​​​

​FTC employees are to avoid official travel to countries and regions the State Department designated as level four due to the virus, and countries with widespread, sustained transmission, a spokesperson emailed. Employees have been instructed to “minimize involvement” in noncritical large professional gatherings.

“The health and safety of FTC staff and those who visit our facilities is our top priority,” the spokesperson emailed. Simons encouraged employees to consider “replacing in-person meetings with phone calls or video conferences when possible.”

The FTC is taking “proactive steps” for following guidance from the CDC, Office of Personnel Management and other agencies, the agency said. This includes asking ill staff to stay home, sharing health safety tips and sharing new guidance. Based on OPM and CDC guidance, the FTC “instructed employees to minimize any noncritical FTC domestic and international travel.”

Agencies say they are monitoring the situation.

“The Chairman’s Office, in consultation with the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, the Office of Managing Director and Office of General Counsel, will continue to monitor developments and will implement additional precautions (or relax current precautions) should circumstances warrant,” the FCC PN said.