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UTC Commends FCC On Energy Recommendations in the National Broadband PlanFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For More Information Contact: UTC Commends FCC On Energy Recommendations in the National Broadband PlanWASHINGTON, DC – The FCC’s National Broadband Plan provides a blueprint for the nation’s 21st century broadband policies, and UTC is pleased that the Plan supports the use of broadband to promote energy independence and efficiency, as well as other important national purposes. UTC agrees with the FCC that “the lack of a mission-critical wide-area broadband network capable of meeting the requirements of the Smart Grid threatens to delay its implementation.” There are three parallel paths that the FCC is pursuing to address this problem: hardening commercial networks to support smart grid, sharing spectrum between public safety and utilities, and empowering utilities to construct and operate their own mission-critical broadband networks. UTC believes that this third path – utilities’ private internal communications networks – will be key to realizing the vision of smart grid and supporting emergency response by utilities. Utilities own, manage and control extensive private internal communications networks that support their core missions of providing safe, reliable and efficient electric, gas, and water services to the public at large. These systems form the backbone of their critical infrastructure communications, and they are characterized by high reliability and resiliency. But utilities need to upgrade their private internal communications systems to support smart grid and other advanced delivery capabilities. In that regard, the FCC has recommended that “The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in collaboration with the FCC, should study the communications requirements of electric utilities to inform Federal Smart Grid policy.” UTC looks forward to working quickly with the DOE and the FCC on this important initiative.
Utilities Telecom Council ### |
