Network Outage Reporting System (NORS)

The FCC requires wireless, wireline, cable, and satellite communications providers of switched voice and paging communications, including VoIP services, to report information electronically about significant disruptions or outages to their communications systems that meet specified thresholds set forth in Part 4 of the FCC's rules, 47 C.F.R. Part 4. The Part 4 rules also require communications providers to report certain communications disruptions affecting specific aspects of 9-1-1 communications, special offices and facilities (e.g., major military installations) and communications at certain classes of airports. Given the sensitive nature of the Part 4 outage data to both national security and commercial competitiveness, this information is presumed confidential and protected from routine public disclosure. The rules were introduced along with a new secure, web-based reporting system, the Network Outage Reporting System.  The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) coordinates with the FCC's Enforcement Bureau to ensure compliance with the outage reporting obligations.  On March 30, 2015, the Federal Communications Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding proposals to update the Part 4 Outage Reporting rules to enhance the reliability and resiliency of the Nation’s communication system, in particular to strengthen the Nation’s 911 system. See Amendments to Part 4 of the Commission’s Rules Concerning Disruptions to Communications; New Part 4 of the Commission’s Rules Concerning Disruptions to Communications, PS Docket Nos. 15-80 and 04-35, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Second Report and Order, Order on Reconsideration, 30 FCC Rcd 3206.

Network Outage Reporting System User Manual