The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau’s (PSHSB’s) Cybersecurity and Communications Reliability Division (CCR) works with communications service providers, public safety entities, and other stakeholders to ensure continued access to communications services for all Americans. PSHSB routinely encourages communications service providers to follow certain best practices to promote network reliability.

The list of network reliability resources and best practices below features recent FCC releases, and resources for communications service providers and the general public related to disaster and emergency response, emergency alerting, and cybersecurity.

Recent Releases

• Verizon Internet Outage Incident Report, Report (February 10, 2021)
• FCC Isssues Staff Report on T-Mobile Outage, Public Notice (October 22, 2020)
• PSHSB Requests Comment on Implementation of Diameter Protocol Security Best Practices, Public Notice (February 10, 2020)
• PSHSB Encourages Implementation of Network Reliability Best Practices, Public Notice (October 15, 2019)
• FCC Issues Report on CenturyLink Network Outage, Report (August 19, 2019)
•  Webinar on Network Resiliency for Small and Rural Communications Providers:  Discusses Available Resources and Best Practices for Small and Rural Communications Providers Regarding Network Reliability and Security, Webinar (June 17,2019)
• Level 3 Nationwide Outage, October 4, 2016, Report (March 13, 2018)
• PSHSB Encourages Industry to Follow Network Reliability Best Practices, Public Notice (April 16, 2018)
• PSHSB Request Comment on Implenmentation of Signaling System 7 Security Best Practices, Public Notice (April 3, 2018)
• FCC's PSHSB Encourages Implementation of CSRIC Signaling System 7 Security Best Practices, Public Notice (August 24, 2017)
• PSHSB Reminds Industry of Network Reliability Best Practices, Public Notice (July 12, 2017)

General Resources

• Network Reliability Best Practices for Small and Rural Providers:  A list of 23 of the most recurring best practices as reported by small and rural carriers in NORS outage reports filed during the last five years.
• Public Safety Support Center:  Enables Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP) to report outages and other network reliability problems directly to the Commission.
• PSAP Registry:  Allows PSAPs to register with the Commission, which aids the Commission in evaluating the state of PSAP readiness and E911 deployment.
• Task Force on Optimal Public Safety Answering Point Architecture (TFOPA) developed for PSAPs:  A list of PSAP best practices regarding system redundancy and resiliency.
• 911 and E911 Services:  Overview of the Nation’s 911 system.
• Office of Communications Business Opportunities (OCBO):  OCBO provides resources for small, women-owned, and minority-owned communications businesses.

Disaster and Emergency Response

• Disaster Support for Broadcasters:  Resource list for outreach support, details on how broadcasters can use the Disaster Information Reporting System, logistical coordination assistance, multilingual emergency broadcast support, and other information.
• Wireless Resiliency Cooperative Framework:  A voluntary industry commitment to promote resilient wireless communications and situational awareness during disasters.
• DIRS Activations: Communications providers submit reports to the Disaster Information Reporting System during emergencies or disasters, and the Commission publishes reports aggregating the information.

Emergency Alerts

• Emergency Alert System (EAS):  Overview of and brief instructions on the federal Emergency Alert System.
• Emergency Alert System Security Best Practices: This 2014 CSRIC Report provides voluntary security best practices for EAS participants, alert originators, EAS device manufacturers, and government agencies.
• Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA):  Overview of the Wireless Emergency Alert System and the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS).
• How Public Safety Officials Can Issue Wireless Emergency Alerts:  Link to and guidance on FEMA’s IPAWS system.

Cybersecurity

• Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council Recommended Best Practices:  Voluntary network reliability best practices database for broadcast, cable, satellite, wireless, and wireline networks adopted by CSRIC.
• FTC Cybersecurity Resources to Assist Small Businesses:  Press Release | Cybersecurity for Small Business Resources
• FCC Cybersecurity for Small Businesses:  Provides a number of resources and tools for small businesses including a Small Business Cyber Planner and tipsheet on how small businesses to protect themselves and their customers from cyber threats.
• NIST Interagency Report - Small Business Information Security:  Guidance on how small businesses can provide basic security for their information, systems and networks.