Federal Communications Commission Initiates Overhaul of Emergency Information Sharing Procedures
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced a review of its Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS), aiming to modernize and simplify disaster reporting, reduce reporting burdens, and improve information access for emergency management [1][2][3].
Since 2007, DIRS has been collecting data from communications providers, cable operators, phone companies, wireless firms, and broadcasters regarding the impact of severe weather and natural disasters on their operations. However, concerns about the time it takes to produce reports and the potential diversion of resources from disaster response have led to the FCC's new effort to reexamine DIRS.
Key proposals in the FCC's notice of proposed rulemaking include:
- Simplified reporting: The current 10 separate worksheets will be replaced with a single, streamlined, dynamic form for manual filers, making the reporting process easier and faster to complete.
- Reduced data collection: Data fields that are deemed not significantly valuable to public safety, such as those related to inter-exchange carrier blocking and satellite providers, will be eliminated. A limited number of new, voluntary fields tailored to current emergency manager needs will be added.
- Elimination of final reports: Mandatory DIRS filers will no longer be required to submit a final report after DIRS is deactivated, further lessening reporting burdens.
- Narrowed reporting obligations: Mandatory DIRS reporting will be limited to facilities-based providers, exempting resellers and mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) to reduce unnecessary reporting burdens during disasters.
- Access to information: The ability of federal and state agencies to directly access DIRS and Network Outage Reporting System (NORS) filings will be enhanced by reducing access requirements.
- Clarifications on outage reporting: Requirements for outage notifications, especially in cases where network outages occur just before DIRS activations, will be addressed, while maintaining obligations to notify 911 and 988 special facilities during DIRS activations.
These reforms aim to balance the benefits of disaster reporting with the burdens on providers and ensure emergency managers have the information they need during disaster events.
The FCC has requested public comments on these proposals, with deadlines set at 30 days after the publication in the Federal Register for initial comments and 60 days for reply comments [1]. The new DIRS form is intended to replace the ten existing worksheets, making it simpler to complete. Reduced data collection is a part of the proposed changes, with the elimination of data fields that do not provide significant value to public safety stakeholders.
[1] Federal Communications Commission, "Notice of Proposed Rulemaking," 2022. [2] Federal Communications Commission, "Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS)," 2022. [3] Our Website, "FCC Considers Making DIRS Mandatory," 2021.
When the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) is modernized, broadcasters, alongside other communications providers, will find the reporting process easier and faster, as the new system replaces the ten existing worksheets with a single, streamlined, dynamic form. In an effort to improve information access for emergency management, satellite providers' data fields might be eliminated due to being deemed not significantly valuable to public safety.
