By Wesley K. Wright and Liam Fulling
Earlier this month, the FCC announced that its 2022 911 Reliability Certification System is now open for Covered 911 Service Providers to file annual reliability certifications. The filings are due on October
17, 2022. Failure to submit the certification may result in FCC enforcement action.
Background
In 2013, the FCC adopted rules aimed at improving the reliability and redundancy of the nation's 911 network. Those rules require Covered 911 Service Providers ("C9SP") to take steps that promote reliable 911 service with respect to three network elements: circuit auditing, central-office backup power, and diverse network monitoring. The Commission identified these three network elements as vulnerabilities following a derecho storm in 2012 that significantly impacted 911 service along the eastern seaboard.