Today, over 1,000 companies offer wireline, facilities-based communications services in the United States.  They serve over 300 million customers, delivering phone calls, high definition video programming, and high speed Internet access to homes and businesses across the U.S. Wireline companies also supply long haul fiber-based IP networks that provide wireless back-haul and serve as the backbone of the Internet.

Major wireline companies are interconnected globally to bring the full value and power of the Internet to the consumers, businesses, and government entities in United States.

Wireline Involvement in the Communications Sector Coordinating Council (CSCC)

Some of the largest carriers in the Wireline sector are founding members of the CSCC including AT&T, CenturyLink, Qwest, and Verizon.  In addition, the USTelecom Association represents hundreds of smaller wireline companies throughout the United States on issues that come before the CSCC.

Securing Wireline Infrastructure

The communications sector works hard to safeguard wireline communications for the nation.  The National program for protecting wireline assets is outlined in parts of the Communications Sector Specific Plan.

The Wireline industry serves a critical role with the National Communications Systems’ (NCS) Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP) and Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS) programs.  The programs provide critical personnel with the capability to place high priority calls regardless of the traffic on the networks.

Wireline carriers have a long history in operating resilient, reliable and secure communications networks. However, the threats never go away. Wireline carriers invest billions expanding and updating network equipment, network circuits, including security systems that make these networks more resilient against attacks.

Wireline carriers deploy and operate hundreds of mobile switching units that can be rapidly deployed anywhere in the U.S within hours of a disaster. In support of Federal Agencies, wireline operators are essential elements in our nation’s “First Responder” system. They’ve responded to and rapidly restored communications following 9/11, hurricanes in the Gulf Coast, earthquakes, wild fires as well as major events like the Superbowl, World Series, Olympics and Presidential conventions, the election and inauguration. Wireline carriers also have robust network operating centers that not only route traffic around disasters, but continuously monitor for and protect against all forms of cyber attacks.

Wireline carriers also contribute substantial resources toward compiling the applicable Best Practices developed by the FCC’s Network Reliability and Interoperability Council (CSRIC). In addition, individual service providers incorporate business continuity planning into their own operational environment and offer similar services to business customers who are highly dependent upon communications services.

The U.S. wireless industry leads the world in affordability, efficiency and competition. The Carriers networks are constantly evolving to provide ever broadening arrays of data and voice services while driving down prices for consumers.

Most Wireless networks operate on a system of cells that reuse a set of radio frequencies to connect the customers to cell towers. The cell towers are in turn connected to each other, a mobile switching office and the rest of the world. Many of these connections are made via landline data circuits.

For a quick overview of how commercial wireless systems work, see How Wireless Works.

Wireless Involvement in the CSCC

Four of the largest carriers in the Wireless sector are founding members of the Communications Sector Coordinating council – AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon.  Alcatel-Lucent, Intrado, Level 3, Motorola, and Nortel are important equipment and service providers to the industry and actively participate in the Communications Sector Coordinating Council.

Securing Wireless Infrastructure

The communications sector works hard to safeguard wireless communications for the nation.  The National program for protecting wireless assets is outlined in parts of the Communication Sector Specific Plan.

The wireless industry also participates in the National Communications Systems Wireless Priority Services (WPS).  WPS provides critical personnel with the capability to place calls when wireless networks are overloaded in the wake of a disaster.

Wireless carriers invest billions expanding and updating network equipment, including features that make these networks more resistant to attacks.  They maintain an extensive inventory of portable generators and fleets of mobile temporary sites for deployment after disasters.  Members train their personnel for disasters and participate in regular disaster exercises internal to their own operations and in conjunction with Federal Agencies.

Wireless carriers regularly evaluate the resiliency and redundancy of critical elements in their networks.  Critical equipment will be interconnected with redundant circuits. Key cell sites will be hardened augmented with banks of backup batteries, on-site generators and expanded fuel capacity.

The Engineers that design, upgrade, and maintain wireless infrastructure helped develop and follow the applicable Best Practices developed by Network Reliability and Interoperability Council (NRIC).

During disasters like hurricanes, Wireless carriers preposition semi-trailer loads of supplies to support tent cities for assessment teams and restoration crews outside of the impact zone. As soon as it is safe to enter the area and authorities grant access, they conduct a preliminary assessment of their sites, prioritize their restoration tasks get to work.

Carriers first work to re-establish coverage where it has been lost.  This can frequently be done by returning a handful of key sites to service.  Their next priority will be to restore capacity where needed.  Sometimes, cell sites will “yo-yo”, coming in and out of service as the land line circuits and commercial power needed to support that site stumble.  Carriers work closely with other utilities, matching their restoration efforts with one another.  The Wireless Carriers’ most critical needs during natural disasters like ice storms and hurricanes are for access (getting their crews through security checkpoints), security, and fuel.

Wireless carriers will also prepare for planned events like the superbowl, Inauguration, etc.

Finally, CTIA, the Wireless Association, provides a certification program to promote Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery.  To become and remain certified, carriers

• Periodically conduct a thorough risk evaluation, identifying appropriate Controls and Safeguards
• Complete an Business impact analysis, determining their recovery priorities and timeline objectives
• Develop Business Continuity Strategies
• Develop Procedures to support these strategies, establishing Emergency operations Centers and escalation protocols
• Regularly educate employees on these processes and procedures
• Conduct and Participate in Drills  and exercises to test their training
• Integrate lessons learned from real disasters and drills into their enterprise
• Regularly review results and progress with Senior management

Satellite communications are a part of the Nation’s critical infrastructure and provide key communications capabilities to the U.S. federal government.  Services offered by the commercial satellite industry are critical to maintaining national security and emergency preparedness communications and mission assurance because satellites:  (1) offer primary and back-up communications; (2) facilitate continuity of operations services; (3) offer customers point-to-multipoint communications; (4) serve as an alternative in the event of a terrestrial wireline or wireless network outage; (5) provide restoration services to terrestrial critical telecommunications and utilities (oil, gas, electricity, and water) infrastructure; (6) offer diversified and distributed commercial owner/operator facilities; and (7) reside in an environment that makes assets highly resistant to many natural and terrestrial effects.

U.S. government agencies engaged in emergency communications and disaster relief regularly rely on satellites to satisfy their communications requirements following disasters or other crises.  When other modes of communication fail, satellite terminals can rapidly be deployed to areas stricken by disasters.

The satellite industry also plays a vital role in support of U.S. military and national security operations.   Currently, commercial satellite systems provide over 85 percent of the Department of Defense’s global satellite communications requirements, linking forward operating bases, enabling on-the-move and on-the-pause mobile communications, and providing connectivity for unmanned surveillance activities.  The Department of Defense has estimated that over 90 percent of the satellite communications capacity used for Operation Iraqi Freedom was provided by commercial satellites. As part of the Nation’s critical infrastructure, satellite networks provide unparalleled coverage of remote geographical areas and difficult terrain.

Securing Satellite Infrastructure

Satellite networks consist of several elements. The spacecraft themselves serve as communications nodes in orbit. These satellites are tracked and operated by ground facilities called Satellite Operations Centers. The third key element is comprised of numerous Satellite Earth Stations that come in various forms, depending on the data being transmitted or received. News trucks use satellite dishes to provide their television networks with news from the field. Millions of consumers in the United States and internationally have satellite dishes at their homes to receive television broadcasts, satellite-delivered radio services, or broadband internet access.

Commercial satellite systems are secure and reliable today, but the satellite industry is constantly striving to maximize performance. Satellite systems are being enhanced with increased capacity and quality of service to better support commercial and Government needs. Developments in next generation satellite technology will afford communications networks even greater protection against interference than is built into existing systems.

Satellite communications networks have greater survivability than many terrestrial communications networks. Satellites typically are not impacted by power outages or damage to underground cables or terrestrial broadcast towers; Satellite Earth Stations can be quickly re-pointed after major events or readily transported to stricken areas. They also can provide backhaul to terrestrial networks when outages occur or underground cables are damaged. Three weeks after Hurricane Katrina, only 60 percent of cell phone networks and 70 percent of television broadcast networks were working properly. But satellite networks were operating at near 100 percent effectiveness, just as they were in the days immediately following the hurricane.

Satellite Industry Involvement in the CSCC

The commercial satellite communications industry is represented on the CSCC by the Satellite Industry Association. SIA is a U.S.-based trade association providing worldwide representation of the leading satellite operators, service providers, manufacturers, launch services providers, and ground equipment suppliers. SIA is the unified voice of the U.S. satellite industry on policy, regulatory, and legislative issues affecting the satellite business.

The U.S. cable industry has invested more than $100 billion over ten years to build an extensive and robust broadband network. This technology platform provides American consumers with an vast array of integrated entertainment, information and communications services.

The cable industry serves approximately 61.1 million basic cable customers, or 47.8% of U.S. homes passed by cable video service.  The cable industry is composed of approximately 7,189 cable systems, with 7,622 headend facilities.  Many of the systems are owned by Multiple System Operators (MSO), with the ten largest MSOs providing service to 55.4 million customers.  In addition to analog and digital video programming services, the cable industry provides digital telephone service to 23.1 million customers, and high-speed Internet access service to 43.2 million customers.

Cable broadband networks are designed with redundancies and safeguards that minimize the impact of failures and ensure that customers continue to receive reliable service. Resiliency is achieved by the technology, redundancy, and diversity employed in network design.

Cable broadband typically are composed of a headend, at least one distribution hub and multiple fiber nodes connected together using a mixture of fiber and coaxial cable to provide bi-directional signal paths between the operator and the customer. This “hybrid” fiber-coaxial (HFC) architecture effectively segments the cable system into a number of parallel distribution networks.  The HFC architecture is beneficial to the cable operator because it improves signal performance and reliability, increases available bandwidth, and is generally easier to maintain than older architectures, which relied solely on coaxial cable.

Services

Video service offerings provided by cable systems typically include content generated by national cable news networks and local broadcast television affiliates, which are an important source of news and information for the public. In addition to these services, there are many channels of nationwide cable programming and on-demand and interactive services that serve a wide diversity of interests for entertainment and information.

In the mid 1990’s, the cable industry begin to offer an affordable, residential high-speed Internet service. Today, cable’s high-speed broadband platform delivers an enormous array of Internet content, applications, and services. Cable broadband service is now available to 122 million homes, or 92 percent of all American households.

In addition to high-speed Internet access, the cable industry has expanded its service offerings to include business and residential telephone services delivered over its infrastructure. A cable system can offer telephone service over the same cable line that already carries digital video, high-speed Internet and other services to consumers. Cable companies are certified local exchange carriers offering competitive residential voice services across the country.

Background & Infrastructure

Radio and television broadcasters are first responders in times of crisis.  Americans know that, during times of crisis, they can rely on local radio and television stations for current, in-depth emergency information and instructions.

The broadcast industry consists of local television and radio stations that either create content or carry content obtained from national networks or other program suppliers.  The national networks transmit their signals from broadcasting studios via satellite to local television and radio stations.  A broadcast may be distributed through several physical means.  If coming directly from the studio at a local radio or television station, it is simply sent through the air chain to the transmitter and then from the antenna on the tower out to the consumer’s receivers  Programming may also come through a communications satellite, played either live or recorder for later transmission.  Networks of stations (called single frequency networks) may simulcast the same programming at the same time, originally via microwave link, and now usually by satellite.

Distribution to radio and television stations or networks may also be through physical media, such videotape, hard disk or other formats.  The final leg of broadcast distribution is how the signal gets to the listener or viewer.  The signal may come over the air as with a radio or television station to an antenna and receiver, or it may come through cable television or cable radio via the station..  The Internet may also bring either radio or television to the audience.

There are over 16,500 full power radio and television broadcast stations in the United States.  On June 12, 2009, over-the-air television completed a transition from analog to digital broadcasting (although translators and low power television stations have yet to transition).  Digital signals consist of pieces of simple electronic code that can carry more information than conventional analog signals.  This code allows for the transmission of better quality sound and higher resolution pictures and includes high-definition television (HDTV) and 5.1 channel Surround Sound.  Radio is also in the midst of a market-driven rollout of digital radio broadcasting technology.  As of mid-2010, there are approximately 2,000 radio stations broadcasting in digital using HD Radio in-band/on-channel (IBOC) digital radio technology.

Emergency Communications & EAS

 Broadcasting has a longer history than any other communications medium of providing reliable emergency communications to Americans.  Broadcasters relay life-saving information through on-going news programming, often at their own peril.  Broadcasting is also the backbone of the Emergency Alert System (EAS).  EAS is used by federal, state and local emergency managers and the National Weather Service to relay specific information to the public via radio and TV stations about national and local emergencies, weather incidents, and America’s Missing: Broadcaster Emergency Response (AMBER) Alerts, among others situations.  Since the inception of AMBER in 1996, AMBER alerts have helped to safely recover more than 500 abducted children. 

Broadcasters test their EAS capabilities on a weekly and monthly basis, and the FCC has announced its intention to introduce an annual nationwide test of the EAS starting in 2011.  In January 2010, the FCC and FEMA conducted a state-wide EAS test in Alaska to illuminate the potential issues surrounding a national test. 

 EMA is responsible for administering EAS at the national level, while the FCC manages EAS participation by media-related communications service providers. FEMA is responsible for distributing presidential EAS alerts to Primary Entry Point (PEP) stations, that relay EAS messages to radio and television stations that rebroadcast the message to other broadcast stations and cable systems until all EAS participants have been alerted. FCC rules require EAS participants to install FCC-certified EAS equipment. Radio and television stations, among others, generally must participate in the system and transmit alerts initiated by the President (and also state governors, following implementation of next-generation EAS).

In June 2006, the President issued Executive Order 13407, entitled Public Alert and Warning System, implementing a policy that the U.S. have a comprehensive integrated alert and warning system.  FEMA initiated the IPAWS program in 2004 to implement the executive order. EAS is expected to be superseded as the nation’s primary alert function by IPAWS, with EAS acting as one of its component parts.

Broadcasters Involvement in Security Organizations

 Broadcasters participate in the CSCC through the involvement of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB).  Broadcasters are also represented by NAB and executives of several individual broadcasting companies on the FCC’s Communications Security, Reliability & Interoperability Council (CSRIC).