FCC Preparedness for Major Public Emergencies (Full Report)

The FCC recently released a report called "FCC Preparedness for Major Public Emergencies" where it analyzes the FCC's ability to response to major public emergencies. The recommended improvements are listed below at the bottom of the quote. Because we have been bombarded with H1N1 "swine flu" hype, possible cyberattacks and potential false flag terrorist attacks, this information is quite timely. As I usually ask when this type of emergency preparedness documents is released, does the FCC know something that the rest of us do not know?

This report responds to the June 30, 2009, request from Chairman Genachowski to the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau for an analysis and briefing within thirty days on the FCC’s preparedness for a major public emergency.

During a major public emergency, the FCC’s primary mission is to ensure continuous operations and reconstitution of critical communications systems and services. This mission statement was developed after lengthy analysis by an in-house FCC team. It describes the essential work that is performed by the FCC during emergency situations that is in direct support of one or more of the National Essential Functions. It was reviewed by an external Interagency Board, and on June 1, 2009, it was approved by John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism.

In developing this mission, the FCC’s Bureaus and Offices identified more than 140 functions that need to be performed during an emergency, or need to be resumed as quickly as possible after being suspended during a disaster.

Within the FCC, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) serves as the lead coordinator for the FCC’s National Security and Emergency Preparedness planning and response activities. The Office of Managing Director (OMD) and Enforcement Bureau (EB) also have major responsibilities for the FCC’s emergency planning and response efforts. OMD provides the necessary IT, communications, physical, and financial resources to implement the emergency plans. EB provides essential field staff and management personnel for emergency deployments in disaster areas. Beyond that, virtually every Bureau and Office plays an important role and is actively engaged in the emergency planning and response efforts: their expertise and efforts are critical to the effective completion of the FCC’s emergency mission.

The FCC also works with its Federal partners and the communications sector in ensuring continuous operations and reconstitution of critical communications systems and services. FCC staff members actively serve on several Federal emergency preparation and response teams and working groups where much of this work is accomplished. The vast majority of the Nation’s critical communications assets are owned and operated by the private sector. Accordingly, the FCC works closely with the communications sector to assess the operational status of essential communications systems and assist in the restoration of these critical assets and related services.

Specifically, the FCC takes the following actions when an emergency is declared:

• Ensures the safety and security of FCC employees.
• Protects essential FCC equipment, records, and other assets.
• Reaches out to 9-1-1 centers and the public safety community to determine their operational status and needs.
• Reaches out to and gathers operational information from its licensees and regulated entities, especially key Emergency Alert Systems stations.
• Uses specialized equipment to identify and resolve communications disruptions.
• Conducts analysis of communication systems and operations.
• Provides timely and actionable disaster-related information to the National Communications System, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Joint Telecommunications Resources Board, and other Federal emergency managers.
• Deploys expert personnel as liaison officers and responders in the field.
• Issues emergency authorizations and waives rules to expedite restoration of essential communications services.
• Coordinates use of spectrum for emergency response.
• Coordinates cross-border, undersea cable, and orbital spectrum issues.

Over the past five years, the FCC has successfully responded to several emergencies and disasters in which essential communications systems sustained severe damage. In addition, PSHSB has substantially improved the FCC’s emergency plans, developed a number of important innovative systems and programs that improve the FCC’s capability to respond to emergencies, and conducted training and exercises to ensure that all FCC emergency response personnel understand their roles during emergencies.

While the FCC has shown that it is prepared to respond to communications emergencies and perform its mission, PSHSB has identified a number of areas in which the FCC can improve its emergency planning and response, among them:

• Expand our cyber security expertise.
• Expand public safety and emergency response outreach activities.
• Enhance the capacity and capability of emergency personnel for remote access to essential FCC applications and databases.
• Expand emergency response and continuity training.
• Modernize the disaster outage and Priority Services programs.

Source: Radio World