The National Communications Coordination Branch’s leadership is aware that their current access letter for critical communications infrastructure facilities issued March 16, 2020 is expiring today and they are working to finalize the details and distribution process of an updated access letter to support any recovery/restoration activities.
However, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is not expected to reissue a new fuel authorization letter that also expires on May 28, 2020 since fuel letters are typically only issued in the aftermath of isolated geographic events like hurricanes and other natural disasters.
Since access to fuel during the COVID-19 pandemic has not been an issue, the agency reportedly saw no need to extend the authorization date.
On Tuesday, the heads of the FCC and CISA asked governors to make sure that essential communications workers have the necessary resources to keep up connectivity during the pandemic. A letter from FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and CISA director Christopher Krebs sent to Alabama Governor Kay Ivey is available here.