Telecommunications: FCC Should Improve Monitoring of Industry Efforts to Strengthen Wireless Network Resiliency, Report to the Ranking Member, Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives   [open pdf - 4MB]

From the Highlights: "Americans increasingly rely on mobile wireless communications for safety-related communications like calling 911 and receiving weather alerts. Mobile wireless networks face risks from physical incidents including extreme weather events and intentional and accidental damage. [...] GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review federal efforts to improve the resiliency of wireless networks following natural disasters and other physical incidents. This report examines: (1) trends in mobile wireless outages reported to FCC [Federal Communications Commission] since 2009 and (2) actions federal agencies and industry have taken since 2013 (after Hurricane Sandy) to improve wireless network resiliency, among other objectives. [...] GAO assessed FCC's efforts to monitor an industry initiative to improve wireless network resiliency against federal internal control standards."