OMB POLICY STATEMENTS
OMB Rejects FCC Rule On Cell Tower Backup Plan
The White House's accounting arm has rejected a rule requiring wireless companies to maintain enough generators or batteries to sustain cell phone and pager service in the event of a power failure. In a one-page notice sent to wireless carriers, the Office of Management and Budget said the Federal Communications Commission didn't seek or evaluate public comments before issuing the rule, which would have required all remote cellular sites to have eight hours of emergency backup power. The FCC rule stems from formal discussions among public safety experts and government officials in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, when communication networks were disrupted for long periods in certain areas.