Wireline

Wireline networks are undergoing a monumental transformation from providing traditional voice communication services to delivering Video, High Speed Internet , and Voice over fiber networks to homes and businesses. Also part of this historic transformation is the migration toward Internet Protocol (IP) based transmission and services making today’s wireline carriers some of the strongest pillars of the global Internet.

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 Communincations 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 (NRIC).  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.

Wireless

Commercial Wireless networks have grown rapidly in their first 25 years.   Today, more than 150 wireless companies compete to offer services in the United States.  They serve over 270 Million customers, delivering more than 2.2 trillion wireless minutes of use and sending over 800 billion text messages each year.

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 eachother, 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 Communincation 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.

<Insert Verizon Helicopter pic here>

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.

<Insert links from carriers detailing the response to large scale disasters>

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 must

• 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

Cable

Broadcast

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).