ATIS Highlights Industry’s Reliability Initiatives

July 22, 2010, Washington, DC — Recently, the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) filed comments related to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Notice of Inquiry (NOI) on the Effects on Broadband Communications Networks Of Damage to or Failure of Network Equipment Or Severe Overload.

In its comments, ATIS noted the US communications industry’s robust survivability-related efforts, and substantial work undertaken to ensure that domestic broadband networks are highly reliable.  ATIS believes that any rules which the Commission adopts must “do no harm” to industry’s ongoing reliability and survivability work.  The comments cited the increasing reliance of consumers, businesses and the government on broadband services as a testament to the industry’s effective efforts in this area.  Additionally, due to the complex and evolving nature of communications networks, ATIS also believes that industry and the FCC should work collaboratively to develop mutually-beneficial network reliability standards and specifications.  

ATIS also noted its myriad reliability-related initiatives, and specifically referenced the work of the following ATIS committees: Copper/Optical Access, Synchronization and Transport (COAST) Committee; Network Reliability Steering Committee (NRSC); Next Generation Interconnection Interoperability Forum (NGIIF); Network Performance, Reliability and Quality of Service Committee (PRQC); Packet Technologies and Systems Committee (PTSC); Sustainability in Telecom: Energy and Protection Committee (STEP); and Wireless Technologies and Systems Committee (WTSC). 

“Communications companies have taken impressive steps to ensure their broadband networks’ survivability,” said Susan Miller, ATIS President and CEO. “Going forward, the industry hopes to work with the FCC to ensure Americans can always reliably access the internet.”   

About ATIS
ATIS is the leading technical planning and standards development organization committed to the rapid development of global, market-driven standards for the information, entertainment and communications industry. More than 250 companies actively formulate standards in ATIS’ 18 Committees, covering issues including: IPTV, Service Oriented Networks, Energy Efficiency, IP-Based and Wireless Technologies, Quality of Service, Billing and Operational Support. In addition, numerous Incubators, Focus and Exploratory Groups address emerging industry priorities including “Green”, IP Downloadable Security, Next Generation Carrier Interconnect, IPv6 and Convergence.

ATIS is the North American Organizational Partner for the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a member and major U.S. contributor to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio and Telecommunications’ Sectors, and a member of the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL). For more information, please visit www.atis.org.