A group of 10 consumer advocate organizations led by the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA) has asked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reconsider its new residential backup power rules. Specifically, the consumer advocates want the FCC to reconsider its decision that communications providers are not required to provide backup power, and need only make backup power available at the customer’s option and expense. They generally argue that the new residential backup rules transfer the responsibility for ensuring the reliability of 911 and other emergency voice communications from the provider to the consumer, and undermine the public safety and other policy goals set forth in the Communications Act. Oppositions to the consumer advocates’ petition must be filed within 15 days of the date the petition is published in the Federal Register, which as of December 9, 2015, has not occurred.
