New State Plans Needed to Encourage Telecom, ElectricrnUtility Communications in Disasters, Commissioners Say

摘要

ORLANDO, Fla. — Electric utilities need more spectrum as utility and telecom operations continuernto converge, said Russell Frisby, a former Maryland Public Service Commission chairman, during arnNARUC panel Nov. 19. “Utilities are becoming more dependent on telecom, but they do not have accessrnto sufficient and suitable spectrum,” said Frisby, now telecom attorney at Stinson Morrison. The spectrumrncrunch is exacerbating this problem as communications become more necessary for cybersecurity needs,rnsaid Frisby. State commissioners from Florida, Oklahoma and Idaho talked about how electric and utilityrninfrastructure need to be fortified before, during and after natural and man-made disasters.