FCC to cell carriers: Back that power up!
Wed Sep 17, 2008 12:14PM EDT
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With many areas still digging out from this season's hurricanes (much of Texas is now in day four of having no electricity or communications in the wake of Hurricane Ike), the FCC is moving forward with its plan to require cellular communications carriers to have backup power available on cellular towers, ensuring communications can continue even when the electricity is out.
The rule has been in the works for years (it was initially spawned after Hurricane Katrina wiped out New Orleans and took cell phone communications along with it), but cellular carriers have vehemently opposed the requirements. Naturally, having to outfit cell towers with fuel-based generators and/or battery backups would cost tens (possibly hundreds) of millions of dollars on a nationwide scale, where some 200,000 cell sites exist. The rules require a minimum of 24 hours of available backup power for central offices and eight hours for more remote sites like independent towers.
Despite (or rather, because) of the legal limbo, the FCC is finally pushing forward to get the requirement published in the Federal Register, after which the 30-day notice for the rule will be in effect. That, of course, won't force cell providers to comply, but it will keep the legal review of the rule moving forward. One appeals court has already said it wouldn't rule on the legality of the requirement until the Office of Management and Budget has weighed in... and that won't happen until the FCC gets the rule into the Federal Register. Whew! Gotta love bureaucracy.
If the rule does go forward, wireless carriers will have six months to audit their facilities, then another 12 months to file a plan explaining how they will comply with the rules if they aren't already. No word on how long those plans can drag on... In other words: Expect such backup systems to be in place roughly by the end of the next decade.
Comments on FCC to cell carriers: Back that power up!
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2 Posted by alamoghetto69 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:49PM EDT Report Abuse
I agree they need to have back up sources. Should have been a rule since day 1. However fining them billions will only cause them to have to raise prices and give the hit to the customers. It says in most cell policies they can raise or lower after contracts end. In time they know everyone would have to take a hit. None the less I wouldnt doubt it if they put the hit on the back up costs to users.
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3 Posted by agustin2489 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:47PM EDT Report Abuse
I'm kind of surprised cell phone towers aren't outfitted with backup power. Most likely a costs thing but sheesh.
1 Posted by rogueist on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:49PM EDT Report Abuse
The FCC needs some fangs... they need to be given the actual legal authority to do what they do, and if companies disobey them, then pull their licenses or fine them billions of dollars a day until they comply. That should clean things up in seconds... they will stop whining.. And with the new rules that disallow high salaries and big compensation packages and tie top managment salaries to the mid-line of salaries paid all other employees for publically traded companies coming into law soon, the cell carriers are going to have tons of extra cash that they will be soon forced by law to use to upgrade their systems with, instead of lining execs pockets.