FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
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News media information 202/418-0500 TTY 202/418-2555 Fax-On-Demand 202/418-2830 Internet http://www.fcc.gov ftp://ftp.fcc.gov |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 4, 2004 |
NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Meribeth McCarrick 202-418-0654 Meribeth.McCarrick@FCC.GOV |
Washington, DC - During the FCC's monthly open meeting today, Linda Blair, Deputy Chief of the Commission's Homeland Security Policy Council, gave an overview of FCC actions in support of homeland security over the past year
Shortly after September 11, Chairman Powell made Homeland Security one of the six pillars of the Commission's Strategic Plan. Since that time, Homeland Security has been an area of significant focus for the Commission. Its Homeland Security goals are to develop policies that enhance the reliability and security of the industries it regulates and ensure rapid recovery in the event of disruption, to help ensure effective public safety communications, and to promote the evolution of new technologies that support Homeland Security.
FCC actions over the past year promoting Homeland Security include:
Rulemakings Promoting Homeland Security: The Commission has taken action in numerous rulemaking proceedings that promise significant benefits to first responders. These actions include the adoption of rules to: resolve interference in the 800 MHz band; enable new applications in the 4.9 GHz band; and promote Intelligent Transportation Systems. In addition, the Commission has enhanced Homeland Security in a number of other arenas, including, for example, rulemakings that promote new technologies that support Homeland Security such as RF ID tags, the Telecommunications Relay Service proceeding, where the FCC addressed national security and emergency preparedness priorities for individuals with hearing and speech disabilities, and actions involving CALEA and Outage Reporting that were adopted today.Forums, workshops, and other partnered initiatives have been important in achieving FCC Homeland Security goals. For example, partnering with the National Communications System, now a part of DHS, the FCC promoted the telecommunications service priority program, especially for 911 center lines. As a result, the number of 911 center lines with TSP coverage has increased from 750 in 2002 to 3,750 as of May 2004. Likewise, partnership initiatives with E911 stakeholders contributed to a 300% increase in Phase II E911 deployment.Federal Advisory Committees: The Commission's ongoing efforts with its Media Security and Reliability Council and Network Reliability and Interoperability Council have been critical in helping the FCC partner with the industry. Both Councils have recently been re-established with new charters and continue efforts to maximize adoption of Best Practices to ensure the security and reliability of telecommunications and media networks.
Partnerships With Other Organizations: During the past year the FCC very successfully partnered not only with the industries it regulates but also with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other federal, state, local, and tribal entities, and communities with special needs.
Homeland Security will continue as a focal point of the Commission's work as it pushes ahead to ensure its regulations and policies promote public safety interoperability, E911 implementation, network security and reliability, and other vital Homeland Security goals. The Commission will also continue its active Homeland Security partnerships and expansive Homeland Security outreach programs.
For more information on the Homeland Security initiatives at the FCC, visit the Commission's website at: http://www.fcc.gov/homeland/