XM is ready to ‘play a crucial role’ in helping first responders ...

Senior Vp- Regulatory & Govt. Affairs William Bailey said XM easily can leverage existing infrastructure to fit disaster scenarios. XM satellite radio broadcasts can “provide a cost-effective, efficient, and truly interoperable means of communicating a common understanding of situational awareness to First Responders in a particular area,” Bailey wrote. Satellite telephony, data and radio services are playing a key role in relief work, filling gaps the storm tore in Gulf Coast terrestrial communication systems (CD Sept 9 p4). Bailey said in his letter that XM’s system, largely immune to earthbound calamity, has the capacity “to deliver a reliable, dedicated audio channel to emergency personnel and decision-makers across various levels of govt. and across multiple jurisdictions, using very small mobile receivers.” Last week, officials reported damage to XM terrestrial repeaters along the Gulf Coast. But, they said, XM’s satellite signal is strong enough that subscribers without repeaters can receive it (CD Sept 2 p5). XM’s 24-hour emergency alert channel continues to deliver key information from NOAA, HHS, DHS and FEMA, Bailey wrote. “Today, XM’s Channel 247 is providing similar emergency information of particular interest to residents of North Carolina and Virginia threatened by Hurricane Ophelia,” he said. Since Katrina, XM has launched a Red Cross Radio channel jointly with the American Red Cross, broadcasting information directly to Red Cross workers in the Gulf Coast and Houston. XM said it donated 200 radios to Red Cross workers.