The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted rules that require submarine cable licensees to report significant outages to the FCC. There are currently about 60 undersea cables that provide voice, data and internet connectivity between mainland US and Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands, as well as the connectivity between the US and the rest of the world.
The FCC said that while submarine cables are vital to American economic and national security, licensees have in the past only reported outages to the FCC on a voluntary and inconsistent basis. Also, information given has often been too limited to be of use.
The new outage reporting rules will enable the FCC to monitor the operational status of submarine cables and assist the agency in ensuring the reliability of this communications infrastructure. Licensees will have to report major outages to the agency’s Network Outage Reporting System (NORS). Other communications providers, including wireline, wireless, and satellite – already report outages to NORS. This has allowed the FCC to analyse outage trends, spot systemic issues, and work with providers to develop solutions to make communications more resilient and reliable.
The FCC also noted that its International Bureau, in coordination with its Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, is developing and improving interagency coordination processes to facilitate rapid deployment and maintenance of undersea cables.
Source: http://www.telecompaper.com/news/fcc-wants-systematc-reports-on-submarine-cable-outages--1150185
