Wildfires, Natural Disasters & Network Resilience

The United States is no stranger to wildfires. These fires can ignite utility poles, melt aerial fiber optic cables, obscure wireless signals, or damage transmitting or receiving equipment. This kind of damage can cut homes off from key public safety resources, and prevent calls for help in the most dire situations. As states now know their share of the $42.5 billion Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, they should begin planning new network deployments and upgrades to withstand increasingly severe natural disasters. States and localities are not the only ones that should take proactive planning measures to ensure new and existing telecommunications and broadband networks are resilient. Providers and other network operators should upgrade equipment or ensure that proper backups are in place to mitigate future outages before a disaster strikes a community. What’s more, resilience planning requires collaboration at every level of government. By taking a few simple steps to enhance communication and planning, both governments and providers can ensure that consumers maintain connectivity during and in the wake of natural disasters when they need it the most.