# 2026-13155: FCC Eases Paperwork for Telecom Outage Reports in Disasters 2026-13155, Resilient Networks; Concerning Disruptions to Communications, is a Federal Register rule from Federal Communications Commission published 2026-06-30, effective 2026-06-30; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-07-07). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13155 - As of: 2026-07-07 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2026-13155 - Title: Resilient Networks; Concerning Disruptions to Communications - Type: Rule - Agencies: Federal Communications Commission - Citation: 91 FR 39516 - Published: 2026-06-30 - Effective: 2026-06-30 - Comments close: not stated - Significant: no - Touches household money: yes - Regulation identifier numbers: none - Last updated: 2026-07-07 ## In one line FCC Eases Paperwork for Telecom Outage Reports in Disasters ## Summary The FCC is making it easier and faster for communication providers to report network problems during disasters. They’re cutting out extra paperwork, letting some providers skip reports, and adding new rules for public safety networks to keep everyone connected when it counts. These changes start June 30, 2026, helping emergency teams get better info without stressing out providers. ## Abstract In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) modernizes the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) to reduce reporting burdens on stakeholders and ensure that the information being collected is useful for disaster response. Our modernization allows manual filers to submit a single, dynamic form instead of multiple worksheets, and enables them to use a "one-click" option to easily indicate there is no change from the previous day's report. Further, unnecessary fields and worksheets will be eliminated to ensure that DIRS is collecting the information that is most important for emergency response. This modernization also eliminates the requirement for service providers to file a DIRS final report within 24 hours of DIRS' deactivation, and exempts non-facilities-based providers from DIRS reporting. This document also recognizes the emergence of public safety voice and broadband networks and the critical connectivity they provide to public safety stakeholders by requiring providers of these services to submit DIRS reports on the status of their public safety network infrastructure. Finally, we augment providers' ability to voluntarily submit geospatial information on infrastructure affected by disasters. Together, these changes provide public safety officials with the additional information they need, while also making it easier for service providers to satisfy their reporting obligations. ## Effects PRIA read - Single dynamic DIRS filing form: benefit, medium. Starting June 30, 2026, manual DIRS filers will use one single, dynamic form instead of ten separate worksheets. The change is intended to reduce time spent on data entry, and the FCC says many manual filers are small- or medium-sized businesses that will see an outsized burden reduction. - One-click 'no-change' daily report: benefit, medium. From June 30, 2026, manual DIRS filers may use a new one-click option to indicate there is no change from the prior day's report. The one-click option is available to manual filers only; the FCC declined to extend an equivalent shortcut to batch filers. - Remove and consolidate DIRS fields: benefit, medium. The FCC eliminates or consolidates many DIRS fields and worksheets (for example: removing the IXC Blocking worksheet, deleting the 'percent of historical capacity available' field, consolidating cable telephony/VoIP subscriber prompts, removing video subscriber fields, and eliminating the 'number o… - Broadband user data becomes voluntary (with exceptions): mixed, medium. The FCC makes collection of broadband access user information voluntary for all DIRS filers except fixed and mobile broadband providers that are stage 2 recipients of the Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund and Connect USVI Fund, who remain required to report those fields. - Non‑facilities-based providers exempt from DIRS: benefit, medium. The FCC exempts providers that do not own or operate facilities in a DIRS activation area (non-facilities-based providers) from mandatory DIRS reporting, while keeping their existing obligation to report outages in NORS. - Public safety networks must file DIRS reports: mixed, high. When the Commission activates DIRS, operators of public safety voice and broadband networks (e.g., FirstNet, Frontline, T-Priority) must submit daily DIRS reports on the status of their public safety network infrastructure. Operators may indicate if public-safety status matches their general networ… - Remove DIRS final report requirement: benefit, low. The FCC eliminates the requirement that providers file a DIRS final report within 24 hours after DIRS is deactivated, because such 'final' estimates are often unreliable and can mislead emergency response. - Easier voluntary geospatial submissions: benefit, medium. The FCC upgrades DIRS so providers can more easily and voluntarily submit more granular geographic information (e.g., cell site shapes, coverage areas) about facilities or service-coverage areas during activations to help emergency managers. ## Related documents - [2026-22833](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22833): Television Broadcasting Services Odessa, Texas, 2026-11-09 - [2026-22600](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22600): Modernizing Spectrum Sharing for Satellite Broadband, 2026-11-05 - [2026-22574](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22574): Information Collections Being Submitted for Review and Approval to Office of Management and Budget, 2026-11-05 - [2026-22573](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22573): Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission, 2026-11-05 - [2026-22601](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22601): Video Relay Service Improvements; Incarcerated People's Communication Services; Implementation of the Martha Wright-Reed Act; Rates for Int…, 2026-11-05 - [2026-22408](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22408): Review of the Commission's Broadcast and Cable Equal Employment Opportunity Rules and Policies; Delete, Delete, Delete, 2026-11-03 ## Sources - [2026-13155 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/06/30/2026-13155/resilient-networks-concerning-disruptions-to-communications) - [2026-13155 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-06-30/pdf/2026-13155.pdf) ## Related - [Previous: 2026-13154, Suitability and Fitness](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13154) - [Next: 2026-13162, Airworthiness Directives; Transport and Commuter Category Airplanes](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13162) - [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13155 (as of 2026-07-07).