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Industry, Advocacy Groups Debate Municipal Access to NORS/DIRS

Stakeholders disagreed how the FCC should update rules on informing state and local governments about disruptions to communications networks, in comments posted through Friday in docket 15-80 (see 2004270046). Communications Workers of America District 7 supports the proposal for access…

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to the network outage reporting system and disaster information reporting system. The need-to-know list should include county and municipal offices of emergency services, said The Utility Reform Network. USTelecom disagrees. "Access by local governments would exponentially increase the number of individuals with access to sensitive information, thus intensifying the potential risks of breaches or inadvertent disclosures," the group said. "As local governments do not directly regulate the reporting entities, there is no compelling reason to allow cities access ... absent special circumstances." CTIA wants safeguards to confidential NORS and DIRS data and "adequate tools" to aid investigations after data breaches. If confidential data can't be protected from public view, Verizon said, "there is a risk that service providers will provide only a bare minimum of responsive information in their outage reports and be far more guarded in their discussions with Commission staff."