New legislation will protect our communications infrastructure from
climate change and natural disasters, including flooding, hurricanes, and
wildfires
Washington
(April 29, 2021) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Ron Wyden
(D-Ore.) today introduced the Generating Resilient and Energy Efficient
Network (GREEN) Communications Act, legislation that will harden our
communications networks against climate change and natural disasters, while
simultaneously reducing the carbon footprint of communications infrastructure.
Scientists have projected that sea-level rise will submerge more than 4,000
miles of fiber optic cables within the next 15 years. Increasing extreme
weather events – like hurricanes and wildfires – also raise the likelihood
of severe outages in our communications networks. At the same time, studies
estimate that the information and communications industry produces about two
percent of global CO2 emissions – which is approximately the same as the entire
aviation industry.
In
order to address these overlapping issues, the GREEN Communications
Act will create a new program at the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration (NTIA), which will fund projects to increase the
resiliency and energy efficiency of communications networks and infrastructure.
In addition, this legislation will instruct the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) to establish a regulatory resiliency framework designed to
minimize the number, length, and impact of future communications network
outages.
“A
reliable communications network means service that does not disappear
when you need it the most,” said Senator Markey. “With climate
change and natural disasters posing an ever-growing threat, we must invest
the resources required to build resilient networks that can withstand emergency
situations. But even while we address these climate risks, we must also reduce
the environmental footprint of our communications technology itself. That’s why
our GREEN Communications Act tackles both ends of the problem,
and why I will fight for this essential legislation as part of any
comprehensive infrastructure package. I thank Senator Wyden for his
partnership.”
“Oregonians
know first-hand that hardening our communications networks is a life-and-death
proposition as supercharged wildfires threaten our communities year after
year,” said Senator Wyden. “The Holiday Farm Fire, which devastated Blue
River, Oregon, also wiped out cell towers and internet access, leaving the
community without reliable access to 911 and vital emergency services for far
too long. Senator Markey and I are fighting to ensure that communities get the
help they need to stay connected, especially when disaster strikes.”
A
copy of the
GREEN Communications Act can be found
HERE.
The GREEN
Communications Act will specifically:
- Authorize $5 billion for a new program at NTIA that
will provide grants and revolving loans for projects designed to
strengthen the resiliency of communications networks and increase the
energy efficiency of communications infrastructure
- Prioritize funding for low-income, rural, and racial or
ethnic minority communities, and for projects that demonstrate the
greatest overall reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, benefit the most
vulnerable areas, or utilize green solutions to increase resiliency
- Requires recipients of energy efficiency funding to
annually report on the electrical consumption – by energy source – of the
communications infrastructure that is the subject of their project, as
well as develop a comprehensive plan for achieving net-zero carbon
emissions from their overall communications infrastructure
- Requires recipients of resiliency funding to
participate in the FCC’s Disaster Information Reporting System, submit new
reports on the number and impact of network outages, and develop a
comprehensive resiliency plan for protecting their overall communications
infrastructure from severe weather, natural disasters, and climate change
- Directs the FCC to issue rules and establish a
regulatory resiliency framework designed to minimize the number, duration,
and impact of future communications network outages, as well as help plan
for long-term disruptions to communications networks and support the
communications needs of first responders
- Requires a variety of studies and reports from relevant
federal agencies, including:
- An FCC study on the
feasibility of establishing a map that shows projected risks to
communications infrastructure from severe weather, natural disasters, and
climate change
- An annual NTIA report
detailing the number of network outages and the latest risks that are
attributable to severe weather, natural disasters, and climate change, as
well as any shifts in the energy consumption patterns of networks and
reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from communications infrastructure
“When disaster strikes, people turn to their communications
networks -- critical infrastructure that simply must work to
connect communities when making a phone call or using the internet can be a
matter of life or death,” said Jenna Leventoff, Senior Policy Counsel
at Public Knowledge. “We thank Sens. Markey and Wyden for spearheading the
Green Communications Act to reduce communications outages during these deadly
disasters. Our networks should always function reliably, but especially when
it counts.”
“Under the Trump Administration, the federal
government was asleep at the wheel as hurricanes destroyed communications
networks in Puerto Rico and firefighters lost service during California's
historic wildfires,” said Joshua Stager, Deputy Director of the Open
Technology Institute. “It's clear that the climate crisis is pushing
our networks to the limit. Senators Markey and Wyden’s bill recognizes this
reality and establishes a serious federal plan for network resiliency. Congress
shouldn't wait for the next disaster to pass this bill. We need future-proof
and climate-proof networks now.”
“We applaud Sens. Markey and Wyden for tackling the threat
that the climate crisis poses to our nation’s telecommunications infrastructure
and our ability to stay connected,” said Joseph Torres, Senior
Director of Strategy and Engagement at Free Press Action. “We have
seen the devastation the climate crisis has inflicted on Black, Latinx and
Indigenous communities. In Puerto Rico, Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017
resulted in the loss of 3,000 to 5,000 lives. The collapse of the islands’
communications networks contributed to the death toll by preventing Puerto
Ricans from making a call for help and accessing life saving services. It
hampered recovery and rescue efforts by federal and local authorities. It’s
critical for lawmakers and regulators to take action to ensure our nation’s
communications infrastructure is resilient as the climate crisis continues to
cause so much harm, as we witnessed not just in Puerto Rico, but throughout our
country in places like California, Texas and beyond.”
