Potential Safeguards in Connection With NORS-DIRS Information Sharing Public Notice, 6865-6866 [2022-02435]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 25 / Monday, February 7, 2022 / Notices process will be fair and objective, and not subject to collusion. The information collected under this information collection allows the Commission to enforce the prohibition on auction applicants and other covered parties by making clear the responsibility of parties who receive information that potentially violates the rules to promptly report to the Commission. It also enables the Commission to ensure that no bidder gains an unfair advantage over other bidders in its auctions, thereby enhancing the competitiveness and fairness of Commission spectrum auctions. The information collected will be reviewed and, if warranted, referred to the Commission’s Enforcement Bureau for possible investigation and administrative action. The Commission may also refer allegations of anticompetitive auction conduct to the Department of Justice for investigation. Federal Communications Commission. Marlene Dortch, Secretary, Office of the Secretary. [FR Doc. 2022–02506 Filed 2–4–22; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712–01–P FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION [PS Docket Nos. 15–80; FR ID 69281] Potential Safeguards in Connection With NORS–DIRS Information Sharing Public Notice Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: In this document, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureau) of the Federal Communication Commission (FCC or Commission) seeks comment on the cost, manner, and technical feasibility of technological safeguards to protect the integrity of NORS and DIRS information that will be shared with agencies granted access to the information pursuant to the Second Report and Order.1 DATES: Submit comments on or before March 9, 2022. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by PS Docket Nos. 15–80, by any of the following methods: • Federal Communications Commission’s website: https://fjallfoss. fcc.gov/ecfs2/. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1 SUMMARY: 1 See Amendments to Part 4 of the Commission’s Rules Concerning Disruptions to Communications, PS Docket No. 15–80, Second Report and Order, 36 FCC Rcd 6136 (2021) (Second Report and Order). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:36 Feb 04, 2022 Jkt 256001 • Filings can be sent by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for more instructions. • People with Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language interpreters, CART, etc.) by email: FCC504@fcc.gov or phone: 202–418–0530 or TTY: 202– 418–0432. For detailed instructions for submitting comments see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document. For general questions, contact Scott Cinnamon, Attorney Advisor, Cybersecurity and Communications Reliability Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, at (202) 418–2319 or scott.cinnamon@fcc.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: This is a summary of the Potential Safeguards in Connection with NORS–DIRS Information Sharing Public Notice, PS Docket Nos. 15–80; DA 21–62, released January 19, 2022. The complete text of the Potential Safeguards in Connection with NORS– DIRS Information Sharing Public Notice is also available electronically at: https://www.fcc.gov/document/pshsbseeks-comments-nors-dirs-informationsharing-safeguards. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background On March 17, 2021, the Commission adopted a framework to allow sharing certain communications network outage information submitted to the FCC’s NORS and DIRS systems with state, federal, and Tribal nation agencies to improve situational awareness, enhance their ability to response more rapidly to outages, and to help save lives. Information submitted in NORS and DIRS ‘‘is sensitive for reasons concerning national security and commercial competitiveness, and the Commission this treats it as presumptively confidential.’’ 2 To protect the confidentiality and integrity of this sensitive information, the Second Report and Order adopted four specific safeguards: ‘‘(1) providing read-only access to the NORS and DIRS filings; (2) limiting the number of users with access to NORS and DIRS filings at participating agencies; (3) requiring special training for participating agencies regarding their privileges and obligations under the program; and (4) potentially terminating access to 2 Second Report and Order, 36 FCC Rcd at 6137, para 2. PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 6865 agencies that misuse or improperly disclose NORS and DIRS data.’’ 3 II. Comment on the Cost, Utility and Feasibility of Specific Safeguards and Suggestions for Additional Safeguards Acknowledging the utility of proposals raised by commenters earlier in this proceeding, the Commission directed the Bureau to ‘‘to seek, via Public Notice, further information on the cost, manner and technical feasibility’’ of including confidential notifications, headers, or watermarks on the read-only outage reports.4 The Bureau seeks specific comments on the usefulness and effectiveness of these specific safeguards as well as information on costs and feasibility of these proposals. The Bureau was further directed to ‘‘implement in NORS and DIRS any measures and safeguards that it determines suitable and in the public interest based on the record developed in response to the Public Notice.’’ 5 Keeping in mind that proposed safeguards ‘‘should not impose new regulatory requirements on service providers or additional conditions on agencies seeking access to outage data,’’ the Bureau invites comments proposing additional technical measures to preserve the confidentiality and integrity of the newly shared NORS and DIRS data.6 III. Implementation Following the receipt of comments, the Bureau will release a Public Notice specifying any technical safeguards implemented in response to this Public Notice. To the extent necessary, these changes may be made without prior notice-and-comment under the Administrative Procedure Act as ‘‘rules of agency organization, procedure, or practice,’’ 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A). The Bureau will then seek Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the modifications to the extent required under the Paperwork Reduction Act. Upon receipt of OMB approval, and the Bureau’s completion of all necessary changes to the systems, the Bureau will announce that the modifications are effective. IV. Procedural Matters Interested parties may file comments in response to this Public Notice on or before the date indicated on the first page of this document. See Electronic 3 Second Report and Order, 36 FCC Rcd at 6153, para. 58. 4 Second Report and Order, 36 FCC Rcd at 6154, para. 61. 5 Id. 6 Id. E:\FR\FM\07FEN1.SGM 07FEN1 jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1 6866 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 25 / Monday, February 7, 2022 / Notices Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998). Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). D Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the internet by accessing the ECFS: https://apps.fcc.gov/ ecfs/. D Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing. D Filings can be sent by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. D Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail must be addressed to 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554. D Effective March 19, 2020, and until further notice, the Commission no longer accepts any hand or messenger delivered filings. This is a temporary measure taken to help protect the health and safety of individuals, and to mitigate the transmission of COVID–19. See FCC Announces Closure of FCC Headquarters Open Window and Change in Hand-Delivery Policy, Public Notice, DA 20–304 (March 19, 2020). D To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an email to fcc504@ fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202– 418–0530 (voice), 202–418–0432 (tty). This proceeding has been designated as a ‘‘permit-but-disclose’’ proceeding in accordance with the Commission’s ex parte rules. See 47 CFR 1.1200(a), 1.1206. Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentation within two business days after the presentation (unless a different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must (1) list all persons attending or otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already reflected in the presenter’s VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:36 Feb 04, 2022 Jkt 256001 written comments, memoranda or other filings in the proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must be filed consistent with rule 1.1206(b). In proceedings governed by rule 1.49(f) or for which the Commission has made available a method of electronic filing, written ex parte presentations and memoranda summarizing oral ex parte presentations, and all attachments thereto, must be filed through the electronic comment filing system available for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (e.g., .doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants in this proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission’s ex parte rules. Federal Communications Commission. David Furth, Deputy Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau. [FR Doc. 2022–02435 Filed 2–4–22; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712–01–P FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION [OMB 3060–0292 and OMB 3060–0743; FR ID 69908] Information Collections Being Submitted for Review and Approval to Office of Management and Budget Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or the Commission) invites the general public and other Federal Agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. Pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, the FCC seeks specific comment on how it might ‘‘further reduce the information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.’’ The Commission may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid OMB control number. DATES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be submitted on or before March 9, 2022. ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting ‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or by using the search function. Your comment must be submitted into www.reginfo.gov per the above instructions for it to be considered. In addition to submitting in www.reginfo.gov also send a copy of your comment on the proposed information collection to Nicole Ongele, FCC, via email to PRA@fcc.gov and to Nicole.Ongele@fcc.gov. Include in the comments the OMB control number as shown in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or copies of the information collection, contact Nicole Ongele at (202) 418–2991. To view a copy of this information collection request (ICR) submitted to OMB: (1) Go to the web page https://www.reginfo.gov/ public/do/PRAMain, (2) look for the section of the web page called ‘‘Currently Under Review,’’ (3) click on the downward-pointing arrow in the ‘‘Select Agency’’ box below the ‘‘Currently Under Review’’ heading, (4) select ‘‘Federal Communications Commission’’ from the list of agencies presented in the ‘‘Select Agency’’ box, (5) click the ‘‘Submit’’ button to the right of the ‘‘Select Agency’’ box, (6) when the list of FCC ICRs currently under review appears, look for the Title of this ICR and then click on the ICR Reference Number. A copy of the FCC submission to OMB will be displayed. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–3520), the FCC invited the general public and other Federal Agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. Comments are requested concerning: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission’s burden estimates; (c) E:\FR\FM\07FEN1.SGM 07FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 25 (Monday, February 7, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6865-6866]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-02435]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[PS Docket Nos. 15-80; FR ID 69281]


Potential Safeguards in Connection With NORS-DIRS Information 
Sharing Public Notice

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In this document, the Public Safety and Homeland Security 
Bureau (Bureau) of the Federal Communication Commission (FCC or 
Commission) seeks comment on the cost, manner, and technical 
feasibility of technological safeguards to protect the integrity of 
NORS and DIRS information that will be shared with agencies granted 
access to the information pursuant to the Second Report and Order.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See Amendments to Part 4 of the Commission's Rules 
Concerning Disruptions to Communications, PS Docket No. 15-80, 
Second Report and Order, 36 FCC Rcd 6136 (2021) (Second Report and 
Order).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
DATES: Submit comments on or before March 9, 2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by PS Docket Nos. 15-80, 
by any of the following methods:
     Federal Communications Commission's website: https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/. Follow the instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Filings can be sent by commercial overnight courier, or by 
first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. See the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for more instructions.
     People with Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request 
reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language 
interpreters, CART, etc.) by email: [email protected] or phone: 202-418-
0530 or TTY: 202-418-0432. For detailed instructions for submitting 
comments see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general questions, contact Scott 
Cinnamon, Attorney Advisor, Cybersecurity and Communications 
Reliability Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, at 
(202) 418-2319 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Potential 
Safeguards in Connection with NORS-DIRS Information Sharing Public 
Notice, PS Docket Nos. 15-80; DA 21-62, released January 19, 2022.
    The complete text of the Potential Safeguards in Connection with 
NORS-DIRS Information Sharing Public Notice is also available 
electronically at: https://www.fcc.gov/document/pshsb-seeks-comments-nors-dirs-information-sharing-safeguards.

I. Background

    On March 17, 2021, the Commission adopted a framework to allow 
sharing certain communications network outage information submitted to 
the FCC's NORS and DIRS systems with state, federal, and Tribal nation 
agencies to improve situational awareness, enhance their ability to 
response more rapidly to outages, and to help save lives. Information 
submitted in NORS and DIRS ``is sensitive for reasons concerning 
national security and commercial competitiveness, and the Commission 
this treats it as presumptively confidential.'' \2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Second Report and Order, 36 FCC Rcd at 6137, para 2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To protect the confidentiality and integrity of this sensitive 
information, the Second Report and Order adopted four specific 
safeguards: ``(1) providing read-only access to the NORS and DIRS 
filings; (2) limiting the number of users with access to NORS and DIRS 
filings at participating agencies; (3) requiring special training for 
participating agencies regarding their privileges and obligations under 
the program; and (4) potentially terminating access to agencies that 
misuse or improperly disclose NORS and DIRS data.'' \3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ Second Report and Order, 36 FCC Rcd at 6153, para. 58.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

II. Comment on the Cost, Utility and Feasibility of Specific Safeguards 
and Suggestions for Additional Safeguards

    Acknowledging the utility of proposals raised by commenters earlier 
in this proceeding, the Commission directed the Bureau to ``to seek, 
via Public Notice, further information on the cost, manner and 
technical feasibility'' of including confidential notifications, 
headers, or watermarks on the read-only outage reports.\4\ The Bureau 
seeks specific comments on the usefulness and effectiveness of these 
specific safeguards as well as information on costs and feasibility of 
these proposals.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ Second Report and Order, 36 FCC Rcd at 6154, para. 61.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Bureau was further directed to ``implement in NORS and DIRS any 
measures and safeguards that it determines suitable and in the public 
interest based on the record developed in response to the Public 
Notice.'' \5\ Keeping in mind that proposed safeguards ``should not 
impose new regulatory requirements on service providers or additional 
conditions on agencies seeking access to outage data,'' the Bureau 
invites comments proposing additional technical measures to preserve 
the confidentiality and integrity of the newly shared NORS and DIRS 
data.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ Id.
    \6\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Implementation

    Following the receipt of comments, the Bureau will release a Public 
Notice specifying any technical safeguards implemented in response to 
this Public Notice. To the extent necessary, these changes may be made 
without prior notice-and-comment under the Administrative Procedure Act 
as ``rules of agency organization, procedure, or practice,'' 5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(A). The Bureau will then seek Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) approval of the modifications to the extent required under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act. Upon receipt of OMB approval, and the Bureau's 
completion of all necessary changes to the systems, the Bureau will 
announce that the modifications are effective.

IV. Procedural Matters

    Interested parties may file comments in response to this Public 
Notice on or before the date indicated on the first page of this 
document. See Electronic

[[Page 6866]]

Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998). 
Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing 
System (ECFS).
    [ssquf] Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically 
using the internet by accessing the ECFS: https://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/.
    [ssquf] Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file 
an original and one copy of each filing.
    [ssquf] Filings can be sent by commercial overnight courier, or by 
first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All filings must be 
addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, 
Federal Communications Commission.
    [ssquf] Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service 
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, 
Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, 
and Priority mail must be addressed to 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 
20554.
    [ssquf] Effective March 19, 2020, and until further notice, the 
Commission no longer accepts any hand or messenger delivered filings. 
This is a temporary measure taken to help protect the health and safety 
of individuals, and to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19. See FCC 
Announces Closure of FCC Headquarters Open Window and Change in Hand-
Delivery Policy, Public Notice, DA 20-304 (March 19, 2020).
    [ssquf] To request materials in accessible formats for people with 
disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), 
send an email to [email protected] or call the Consumer & Governmental 
Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty).
    This proceeding has been designated as a ``permit-but-disclose'' 
proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules. See 47 
CFR 1.1200(a), 1.1206. Persons making ex parte presentations must file 
a copy of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral 
presentation within two business days after the presentation (unless a 
different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons 
making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda 
summarizing the presentation must (1) list all persons attending or 
otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte 
presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and 
arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted 
in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already 
reflected in the presenter's written comments, memoranda or other 
filings in the proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such 
data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other 
filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where 
such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the 
memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex 
parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must 
be filed consistent with rule 1.1206(b). In proceedings governed by 
rule 1.49(f) or for which the Commission has made available a method of 
electronic filing, written ex parte presentations and memoranda 
summarizing oral ex parte presentations, and all attachments thereto, 
must be filed through the electronic comment filing system available 
for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (e.g., 
.doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants in this proceeding 
should familiarize themselves with the Commission's ex parte rules.

Federal Communications Commission.
David Furth,
Deputy Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2022-02435 Filed 2-4-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
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