The FCC Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council approved a report Wednesday with recommendations on measuring risks and remediation costs in 911 and next-generation 911 networks. During its virtual meeting, CSRIC also OK'd reports on making standalone 5G networks more reliable and addressing session initiation protocol (SIP) security challenges. The meeting was the last under the group’s current charter and the first under President Joe Biden's administration.
An NPRM on curbing 911 fee diversion (see 2101270060) is likely to receive unanimous support during Wednesday's meeting, FCC officials told us. Congress in December passed the Don’t Break Up the T-Band Act, which required the commission to issue rules defining what constitutes a 911 fee or diversion.
The National Emergency Number Association and Center for Internet Security adopted a memorandum of understanding on working together on best cybersecurity practice and will host a summit. “As we continue to lead the transition from legacy 9-1-1 to NG9-1-1 technologies, it is imperative that we elevate 9-1-1 professionals’ knowledge of cybersecurity,” said NENA President Gary Bell.
Prioritize 911 workers for COVID-19 vaccinations, the National Emergency Number Association said Friday. “Sadly, while the federal government and statehouses across the country have designated 9-1-1 professionals as essential workers throughout the pandemic, many states are not recognizing these public servants as essential when it comes to the distribution of coronavirus vaccines,” NENA CEO Brian Fontes wrote governors.
Industry and the National Emergency Number Association agreed the FCC needs to do more work before reporting to Congress on feasibility and cost of making Wi-Fi access points and other communications technologies available for access to 911 during times of emergency. Replies on a Public Safety Bureau notice were due Friday in docket 20-285. The FCC must file a report as a requirement of Ray Baum’s Act. “In light of the significant technical and security issues raised in this proceeding about relying on Wi-Fi access points as a backup for wireless 9-1-1, the FCC should seek the guidance of relevant technical expert bodies on these issues prior to submitting its study to Congress,” CTIA said. Access points supported by fixed wireline are “just as challenged as mobile wireless services to remain operational during severe emergencies,” it said: “Other Commission proceedings demonstrate the increasing resilience of mobile wireless networks even where fixed wireline backhaul and commercial power is unavailable for extended periods of time.” Connecting through access points “appears to be technically feasible, but work must be done to ensure quality assurance to 9-1-1 and to its callers,” NENA commented. Such connections “must meet, at the very least, the public’s expectations for reliability and service; meeting these expectations may be challenging absent regulatory authority,” the group said. ACA Connects said it’s not “technically feasible” today to use Wi-Fi “to provide a backup path to 911 when mobile networks are down.”
Opponents of states using 911 fees for unrelated purposes support an FCC notice of inquiry proposed for vote at Wednesday’s meeting. Some want earlier action and wonder what the future holds, since the item’s main FCC champion, Commissioner Mike O’Rielly, is likely leaving. The agency would ask how to dissuade states from diverting 911 fees and the impact of the practice (see 2009090048).
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announces changes in his office (see also this section, Aug. 7 issue): Sean Spivey joins from Wireless Bureau as wireless and international adviser, replacing Aaron Goldberger, returning to the bureau; Allison Baker named economic adviser, comes from Wireline Bureau; chairman’s Rural Broadband Adviser Preston Wise expands role to wireline adviser, replacing Nirali Patel, going back to Wireline Bureau; and Melissa Kirkel, who has been on detail as special counsel-wireline, returns to the bureau ... Arnold & Porter hires Jessica Monahan from National Association of Counties as policy adviser; she has worked on transportation and technology ... Scanlon Rabinowitz adds Roy Shulman, ex-Prudential Financial, as special counsel focusing on technology, contract and intellectual property law.
Two public safety associations canceled in-person conferences Tuesday. APCO canceled its Aug. 2-5 conference (see 2006230039) less than one week after saying it was moving forward with the Florida event, and after some public health experts raised concerns (see 2006190035). Since Thursday's statement, “several developments occurred,” including Orange County’s mayor requiring face masks, Florida reporting a record-high 4,049 new COVID-19 cases Saturday and the state health department recommending Saturday people don’t attend events with more than 50 people, wrote APCO CEO Derek Poarch in an email to members and on the event’s webpage. Full refunds will be issued, and the group is planning for APCO 2021, Aug. 15-18, in San Antonio. The National Emergency Number Association, which earlier postponed its June 13-18 conference to Sept. 24-29 in California, said the event will now be held virtually the week of Sept. 21. “Given the still-uncertain trajectory of the pandemic, and considering that conference participants would be coming from all over the country and around the world, NENA concluded that canceling the in-person meeting was the only safe and responsible action,” it said. NENA was in touch at least weekly with Long Beach "ever since the first date-change announcement was made," and Tuesday's announcement "reflects weeks of discussions and planning," a spokesperson added. APCO didn’t comment beyond the announcement. Florida’s health department didn’t comment.
While most associations have dropped plans for in-person summer conferences due to COVID-19, APCO is forging ahead with plans to meet Aug. 2-5 in Orlando. It's even offering a $100 credit to attendees, to be used at next year's conference. Infection rates are on the rise in Florida, and experts warned against holding the conference live.
National 911 groups will explore how operators could field calls from home, heads of the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) and National Association of State 911 Administrators (NASNA) said in interviews last week. Operators began working remotely in Alexandria, Virginia, when the coronavirus struck the U.S. Most public safety answering points (PSAPs) don’t allow that, despite widespread safety concerns of having call takers working near each other indoors (see 2003180033).