FCC Field Hearing Focuses on Innovative Network Technologies

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) held a field hearing on network resilience and reliability on Feb. 28. This was the second national field hearing, with a prior set of field hearings held in New York City and Hoboken, N.J., relating to Superstorm Sandy on Feb. 5. This field hearing had a decided California flavor.

The focus was on what innovative network technologies, smart power solutions, social media and mobile applications might do to improve communications network resiliency in times of disaster. Chairman Julius Genachowski opined that broadband is essential to our daily lives, and high reliability is important as a result. With 30 percent of Americans relying on cellphones, he said it is critical that users be able to reach 911. The FCC is working on “Next Gen 9-1-1,” improving location accuracy for mobile 911, and enabling wireless emergency alerts to allow local authorities to send warnings and texts to people in affected geographic areas. The chairman announced that the FCC staff had conducted a comprehensive analysis of the “super Derecho” violent thunderstorms. A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking would be considered at the March FCC meeting.

[Rachelle Chong is a former Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission and the California Public Utilities Commission]