Spectrum Issues for Critical Infrastructure: Pressures Mounting

1. Spectrum Issues for Critical Infrastructure: Pressures Mounting United Telecom Council NSMA Spectrum Management 2006 May 16, 2006

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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?

10. Current Issues • Pending – narrowbanding in 150-512 MHz • 800 MHz rebanding • 900 MHz LMR auction proposal • 900 MHz LMS rules change proposal • 2 GHz microwave relocation

11. 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

12. 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

13. Thank You! For more information, contact UTC www.utc.org Jill Lyon 202.833.6808 Jill.lyon@utc.org