May 4, 2010, Washington, DC – The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions’ (ATIS) Network Reliability Steering Committee (NRSC) recently released its 2008-2009 Biennial Report.

The NRSC focuses on various metrics – including network outage frequency and their corresponding impacts on our nation’s public networks – to ensure their continued vitality and reliability. This Biennial Report reviews the industry’s network reliability actions and related trends during the 2008-2009 period. It also provides guidance and recommendations for improving existing network reliability practices and processes on a going forward basis. Materially, the report provides in-depth analyses of network outages’ major causes – and subsequently identifies specific, actionable countermeasures – to achieve immediate, positive changes across the industry.

The report also signals the NRSC’s shifting focus to acknowledge the industry’s rapidly changing technical and operational environments. As the industry increasingly shifts towards broadband and wireless services, issues such as emergency communications (e.g., Enhanced 911 or E911), control networks (e.g., Signaling System 7 or SS7), network resiliency, and emergency preparedness are magnified – and next-generation solutions become necessary.

“Public communication networks are vital to the nation’s well-being, public safety, economic stability, prosperity, and national security,” said Susan Miller, ATIS’ President and CEO. “This Report underscores ATIS’ continued commitment to ensuring our nation’s infrastructures continued dependability and effectiveness – both today and in the future.”

About the Network Reliability Steering Committee
The Network Reliability Steering Committee (NRSC) strives to improve network reliability by providing timely consensus-based technical and operational expert guidance to all segments of the public communications industry. As a trusted expert, the NRSC addresses network reliability improvement opportunities in an open, noncompetitive environment. It advises the communications industry through developing and issuing standards, technical requirements, technical reports, bulletins, best practices, and annual reports.

About ATIS
ATIS is the leading technical planning and standards development organization committed to the rapid development of global, market-driven standards for the information, entertainment and communications industry. More than 250 companies actively formulate standards in ATIS’ 18 Committees, covering issues including: IPTV, Service Oriented Networks, Energy Efficiency, IP-Based and Wireless Technologies, Quality of Service, Billing and Operational Support. In addition, numerous Incubators, Focus and Exploratory Groups address emerging industry priorities including “Green”, IP Downloadable Security, Next Generation Carrier Interconnect, IPv6 and Convergence.

ATIS is the North American Organizational Partner for the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a member and major U.S. contributor to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio and Telecommunications’ Sectors, and a member of the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL). For more information, please visit www.atis.org.