[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 93 (Friday, May 13, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 29829-29830]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-11233]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 90

[PS Docket 13-239, PS Docket 11-60; DA 16-463]


Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Seeks Comment on 
Wireless Carriers' Proposal To Increase Resilience and Enhance 
Information Sharing During Disasters

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: This document seeks comment on the ex parte proposal made by 
AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, and Verizon, together with CTIA 
(collectively, ``the carriers''), in which they announce a ``Wireless 
Resiliency Cooperative Framework'' described as ``a voluntary 
initiative that will enhance coordination and communication to advance 
wireless service continuity and information sharing during and after 
emergencies and disasters.''

DATES: Comments are due on or before May 31, 2016.

ADDRESSES: See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Renee Roland, Special Counsel, Public 
Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, at (202) 418-2352, or Lauren 
Kravetz, Chief of Staff, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, at 
(202) 418-7944.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's 
document, DA 16-463, released on April 28, 2016. The document is 
available for download at http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/. The 
complete text of this document also available for inspection and 
copying during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Information 
Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street SW., Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 
20554. To request materials in accessible formats for people with 
disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), 
send an email to [email protected] or call the Consumer and Governmental 
Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (tty).
    1. On April 27, 2016, the carriers filed an ex parte letter 
detailing a five prong approach to enhance industry coordination to 
``facilitate greater network resiliency and faster restoration of 
service'' which they assert will ``obviate the need for legislative 
action or inflexible rules that could have unintended consequences.'' 
Specifically, the five prongs include: (1) Providing for reasonable 
roaming under disaster arrangements when technically feasible; (2) 
fostering mutual aid during emergencies; (3) enhancing municipal 
preparedness and restoration; (4) increasing consumer readiness and 
preparation; and (5) improving public awareness and stakeholder 
communications on service and restoration status. Under each prong, the 
carriers provide specific actions that they will undertake designed to 
``enhance coordination among wireless carriers and all key 
stakeholders, improving information sharing and making wireless network 
resiliency more robust.''
    2. In its 2013 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in this docket 
(Resiliency Notice), the Commission sought comment on, inter alia, the 
means to enable greater resiliency and consumer transparency with 
respect to the performance of wireless communications networks during 
disasters, including seeking comment on mandatory disclosures or the 
use of voluntary industry measures. 78 FR 69018, November 18, 2013. In 
addition, since the Resiliency Notice was issued and the record 
compiled, the Commission's Public Safety and

[[Page 29830]]

Homeland Security Bureau has engaged in a number of meetings with a 
variety of stakeholders to understand the data that different segments 
value in evaluating the overall resiliency of wireless networks and 
outage impacts, as well as other factors in developing more resilient 
wireless networks. Accordingly, the Commission seeks comment on the 
carriers' ``Wireless Resiliency Cooperative Framework'' in light of the 
aims of the Resiliency Notice and the associated record.
    3. Interested parties may file comments until fifteen days after 
the publication of this document in the Federal Register. All pleadings 
are to reference PS Dockets 13-239 and 11-60. This proceeding is a 
``permit-but-disclose'' proceeding in accordance with the Commission's 
ex parte rules.\1\ Persons making ex parte presentations must file a 
copy of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral 
presentation within two business days after the presentation (unless a 
different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons 
making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda 
summarizing the presentation must (1) list all persons attending or 
otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte 
presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and 
arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted 
in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already 
reflected in the presenter's written comments, memoranda or other 
filings in the proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such 
data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other 
filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where 
such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the 
memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex 
parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must 
be filed consistent with section 1.1206(b). In proceedings governed by 
section 1.49(f) or for which the Commission has made available a method 
of electronic filing, written ex parte presentations and memoranda 
summarizing oral ex parte presentations, and all attachments thereto, 
must be filed through the electronic comment filing system available 
for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (e.g., 
.doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants in this proceeding 
should familiarize themselves with the Commission's ex parte rules.
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    \1\ Id. para.74.
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    4. Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment 
Filing System (ECFS). See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking 
Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998).
     Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically 
using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/.
     Paper Filers: Parties that choose to file by paper must 
file an original and one copy of each filing. If more than one docket 
or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, filers 
must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or 
rulemaking number.
    5. Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial 
overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service 
mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, 
Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
     All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings 
for the Commission's Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 
445 12th St. SW., Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. The filing hours 
are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together 
with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must be 
disposed of before entering the building.
     Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service 
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton 
Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743.
     U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority 
mail must be addressed to 445 12th Street SW., Washington, DC 20554.
    6. To request materials in accessible formats for people with 
disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), 
send an email to [email protected] or call the Consumer and Governmental 
Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (tty).
    7. For further information, contact: Renee Roland, Special Counsel, 
Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, at (202) 418-2352, 
[email protected], or Lauren Kravetz, Chief of Staff, Public Safety 
and Homeland Security Bureau, at (202) 418-7944, 
[email protected].

Federal Communications Commission.
Lisa M. Fowlkes,
Deputy Bureau Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2016-11233 Filed 5-12-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6712-01-P