The premier source of telecom advocacy, information and services for critical infrastructure industries. Spectrum Issues for Critical Infrastructure: Pressures Mounting United Telecom Council NSMA Spectrum Management 2006 May 16, 2006

The Premier Source of Telecom and IT Advocacy, Information and Services for Critical Infrastructure Industries. 2 CI Uses Extensive Internal Wireless  Must be reliable, exclusive and always available  Ubiquitous coverage – wireless must be everywhere crews go  Interference-free – mistakes cost worker lives  Interoperability – CI personnel are emergency responders; utilities routinely have nationwide response in disasters  Systems are robust – utilities build to keep working

The Premier Source of Telecom and IT Advocacy, Information and Services for Critical Infrastructure Industries. 3 How Utilities Use Wireless  Mobile voice and data communications to employees and field crews  Distribution SCADA to remotes in substations and line devices  802.xx systems in offices, substations  Automated, intelligent metering systems  GIS-based work management systems  Meteorological data gathering  Emissions monitoring  Alarm systems  Safety/control-related systems generally NOT entrusted to commercial networks

The Premier Source of Telecom and IT Advocacy, Information and Services for Critical Infrastructure Industries. 4 Recent Events Highlight Dependence  9/11 found ConEd land mobile system functional, although WTC and nearby facilities lost  Hurricanes of 2004/2005 – internal systems (fiber, microwave and land mobile) performed when all commercial systems down

The Premier Source of Telecom and IT Advocacy, Information and Services for Critical Infrastructure Industries. 5 UTC 2005 Gulf Coast Utility Study  15 area utilities of various sizes responded  All reported continued performance from comm systems  One exception, when utility had moved to cellular for primary voice  Strengths included mobile wireless, microwave, fiber

The Premier Source of Telecom and IT Advocacy, Information and Services for Critical Infrastructure Industries. 6 Gulf Coast Study (cont.)  Findings:  System survival highlights importance of private networks to safety, restoration  Robust systems and planning habits make CI obvious partners in emergency response planning  Nationwide response by utilities points up interoperability problems, need for dedicated spectrum for future  Coordination with public safety inconsistent and inadequate

The Premier Source of Telecom and IT Advocacy, Information and Services for Critical Infrastructure Industries. 7 Future Requirements Will Increase Dependence  Energy Policy Act of 2005 will mean new reliance on technology  2/07 deadline for time-based rate availability requires smart, telecom-based meters  Repeal of PUHCA likely to lead to re-orgs that will require better communications integration  Energy price transparency requirement likely to require electronic information system  Nuclear security measures, including tracking/monitoring system, emergency response communications procedures  Focus on reliability will underscore necessary robustness of wireless systems

The Premier Source of Telecom and IT Advocacy, Information and Services for Critical Infrastructure Industries. 8 Interdependencies  Growing recognition of mutual reliance among communications, IT and energy sectors  UTC participation in NSTAC TEPITF  4/20 – NSTAC letter to President calling for telecom, utility workers being named as “emergency responders,” included in planning  Without power, nothing works – and power providers rely on their wireless systems!

The Premier Source of Telecom and IT Advocacy, Information and Services for Critical Infrastructure Industries. 9 But CI Faces Obstacles  Current wireless allocations shared, and degrading  Gradual loss through regulatory action, congestion  CI HAS NO DEDICATED SPECTRUM, UNLIKE PS!  Concern – FCC’s new Public Safety/Homeland Security Bureau will not include CI  Where is the home for internal wireless systems?  How will Bureaus coordinate actions, policy?

The Premier Source of Telecom and IT Advocacy, Information and Services for Critical Infrastructure Industries Current Issues  Pending – narrowbanding in MHz  800 MHz rebanding  900 MHz LMR auction proposal  900 MHz LMS rules change proposal  2 GHz microwave relocation

The Premier Source of Telecom and IT Advocacy, Information and Services for Critical Infrastructure Industries Spectrum Allocation  UTC and its members seeking 6-10 MHz nationwide for next generation wireless systems  Voice and data; likely IP-enabled  Built to utility standards and interoperable for emergency response  To be made available to public safety, other responders as needed  Due to infrastructure costs, sought below 1 GHz

The Premier Source of Telecom and IT Advocacy, Information and Services for Critical Infrastructure Industries Long-Term Goal  No private wireless allocation to non- public safety for >20 yrs.  FCC policy agenda does not include attention to internal systems – industry work needed!  UTC working on a variety of fronts; meanwhile, pressure mounting

The Premier Source of Telecom and IT Advocacy, Information and Services for Critical Infrastructure Industries Thank You! For more information, contact UTC Jill Lyon