FCC Advances Implementation of the Resilient Networks Act

Executive briefing: On January 25, 2024 the Federal Communications Commission voted to implement key provisions of the Resilient Networks Act. The order requires facilities-based wireless providers to maintain mutual aid and roaming arrangements, share real-time status data during emergencies, and expand the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) to cover more providers and service types.

Key policy signals

Mutual aid transparency. Providers must file annual certifications detailing their disaster roaming agreements and steps taken to negotiate reciprocal support.
DIRS expansion. The FCC broadened participation to additional service categories, ensuring more comprehensive situational awareness for public safety agencies.
Consumer communications. Carriers must deliver timely outage notifications to customers affected by disasters and document recovery milestones.

Control alignment

Telecom vendor management. Update contracts with wireless providers to ensure service-level agreements incorporate the new FCC reporting and roaming requirements.
Continuity planning. Align disaster recovery runbooks with expanded DIRS data feeds and outage notification protocols.
Regulatory monitoring. Track forthcoming FCC guidance on enforcement and compliance audits tied to Resilient Networks Act obligations.

Action checklist

Request updated disaster roaming documentation from primary and secondary wireless carriers.
Integrate DIRS data fields into network operations dashboards to improve situational awareness during incidents.
Brief executive leadership on compliance deadlines and potential penalties associated with the new reporting duties.

Sources

Zeph Tech aligns telecom continuity programs with FCC resiliency mandates, ensuring enterprises can validate carrier readiness.