Emergency Preparedness/Business Continuity  RSS Feed

CTIA Position:
CTIA-The Wireless Association® and the wireless industry acknowledge the importance of business continuity/disaster recovery planning and implementation of such measures. 

Wireless companies are constantly evaluating, analyzing, and refining their response plans, and through recent experiences, such as Hurricane Katrina, the wireless community has learned even more about emergency preparedness. The industry applies that knowledge in its efforts to retool and shape plans for future emergencies. 

By focusing on the future, making necessary changes, and remaining flexible in the face of complicated situations, disaster recovery and the restoration of wireless services in affected areas can occur even faster and more efficiently. 

Key Points:

  • Business Continuity/Disaster Preparation are Essential Components of Carriers’ Network Service Operations.  Companies in the wireless industry are continually assessing and refining their response capabilities for emergencies of all shapes and sizes. CTIA and its member companies have taken an important step with regard to emergency preparedness in agreeing to a Voluntary Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery Certification Program.  Under CTIA’s leadership, the wireless industry collectively drew up a list of standard “best practices” that pulled from the strengths of individual company plans to create one standard framework to keep service up and running in times of crisis.  The Program includes requirements such as:
    • Project Initiation and Management
    • Risk Evaluation and Control 
    • Awareness and Training Programs
    • Coordination with External Agencies
  • Wireless Should be a Priority for Both Electric Power and Landline Service Restoration. Government agencies and citizens increasingly look to their wireless devices as lifelines and indispensable tools during disasters. Currently, the wireless industry does not have priority status for power restoration during national emergency situations. That has to change. Mobile wireless services are the primary method of communication during disasters and should be given appropriate priority, along with other communications providers, for restoration of electricity and access to landline infrastructure. Wireless might not be the top priority, but it belongs in the queue for priority restoration with other critical infrastructure.
  • Flexibility on the Part of the FCC and Federal Government is Key in Disaster Response. Adopting a streamlined Special Temporary Authorization (STA) and waiver process in disaster areas will facilitate fast recovery and repair times, as it will allow carriers to take necessary actions without concern that they will later be subject to FCC sanction or other impediments. Uncertainty about the appropriateness of operations without an STA or waiver could lead to unnecessary delay that could further jeopardize public safety and property. These changes will allow faster response times, and will ensure that workers and contractors can complete their important jobs to restore service to stricken areas.
  • The Development of National Credentialing Requirements Would Greatly Enhance Recovery Coordination Efforts. Easy access to affected areas in a disaster situation is crucial for wireless repair crews and contractors to successfully restore service.  However, the widespread lack of uniform credentialing and procedures often hinder recovery efforts with unnecessary delays. Given the difficulties in obtaining permission from federal, state, and local officials to access disaster areas, CTIA favors the development of consistent national and state credentialing programs to speed recovery efforts by carriers.
  • The Emergency Outage Reporting Process Needs to be Streamlined. The FCC should restructure the emergency outage reporting process in a manner that will not result in an onerous outage reporting burden that diverts resources from damage assessments and recovery efforts.