Influenza pandemic : key securities market participants are making progress, but agencies could do more to address potential internet congestion and encourage readiness : report to congressional requesters.

Concerns exist that a more severe pandemic outbreak than 2009's could cause large numbers of people staying home to increase their Internet use and overwhelm Internet providers' network capacities. Such network congestion could prevent staff from broker-dealers and other securities market...

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Bibliographic Details
Corporate Author:	United States. Government Accountability Office
Format:	Government Document eBook
Language:	English
Published:	[Washington, D.C.] : U.S. Govt. Accountability Office, [2009]
Subjects:	United States. > Department of Homeland Security > Rules and practice. United States. > Securities and Exchange Commission > Rules and practice. Securities industry > United States. Emergency management > United States > Computer network resources. Internet > Planning. Telecommunication > Traffic > Management.
Online Access:	https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/LPS120797

Description
Summary:	Concerns exist that a more severe pandemic outbreak than 2009's could cause large numbers of people staying home to increase their Internet use and overwhelm Internet providers' network capacities. Such network congestion could prevent staff from broker-dealers and other securities market participants from teleworking during a pandemic. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is responsible for ensuring that critical telecommunications infrastructure is protected. GAO was asked to examine a pandemic's impact on Internet congestion and what actions can be and are being taken to address it, the adequacy of securities market organizations' pandemic plans, and the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) oversight of these efforts. GAO reviewed relevant studies, regulatory guidance and examinations, interviewed telecommunications providers and financial market participants, and analyzed pandemic plans for seven critical market organizations. GAO recommends DHS begin planning to address Internet congestion and SEC better review market participants' plans. SEC agreed. DHS agreed to address potential congestion for national security and emergency communications, but not more broadly. GAO believes DHS should do more to address potential Internet congestion.
Item Description:	Title from cover screen (GAO, viewed Oct. 27, 2009). "October 2009." "GAO-10-8." Electronic resource.
Physical Description:	1 online resource (iii, 71 pages) : illustrations, map.
Bibliography:	Includes bibliographical references.