The Media Security & Reliability Council (MSRC), formed in the aftermath of Sept. 11, voted overwhelmingly to adopt a series of “best practice” recommendations to ensure that timely and accurate emergency information was transmitted to the public in the event of a disaster like the terrorist attacks (CD June 10 p8). Among the recommendations is one that the media should form a public/private partnership with the govt. on federal, state and local levels. How that partnership would look and what shape it would take has yet to be decided.

The Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) should have the limited role of only setting up general logistical aspects of the Media Security & Reliability Council’s (MSRC) plans to improve emergency warning systems, council members were told at the group’s 3rd biannual meeting May 28 (CD May 29 p3). Media executives said in interviews after the meeting that federal govt. involvement of some sort was necessary, and many even suggested the Council would agree to work with any conditions DHS proposed.

Media companies need to include the possibility of deliberate sabotage in their planning for media reliability, a task force recommended Wed. to the FCC’s Media Security & Reliability Council (MSRC). Homeland Security Dept. Secy. Tom Ridge called public information communication “one of the most critical pieces of national response to crisis” and an element of homeland security that could help the nation in its development toward “a new and better level of readiness.”

Rep. Meek (D-Fla.), a member of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, introduced a bill charging the Dept. of Homeland Security to develop an emergency telephonic alert notification system. It would notify U.S. households and business in case of national, regional or local emergency and provide information about appropriate protective measures. American Teleservices Assn. (ATA) Chmn. Thomas Rocca said “ground-breaking first steps were taken… in forging an arrangement by which the teleservices industry could be asked to assist in rapidly disseminating information to the public in cases of national emergency.” The ATA said the system, called the Responsive Emergency Alert & Dissemination of Information Call System (READICall System), would utilize existing telephone system resources in both govt. agencies and private sector companies.

The Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) must move faster to ensure adoption by local first responders of interoperable communications equipment, numerous members of Congress told DHS Secy. Tom Ridge last week. Over the course of 2 days of hearings, more than a dozen members of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security raised the interoperability issue, with Rep. Weldon (R-Pa.) also pressing for more spectrum for public safety users. Ridge apparently got the message, because when asked by Rep. Lucas (D-Ky.) what he believed was the top priority for communities involving homeland security, Ridge responded: “What I've heard is, from just about everybody, it’s communications equipment.”

FCC Fines: (1) WBRG-AM, Madison Heights, Va., $4,000 for failing to reduce power at sunset to limit the station’s pre-sunrise power. (2) Mortenson Bcstg., owner of antenna structure in S. Charleston, W. Va., $8,000 for failing to exhibit red obstruction lighting on the structure between sunset and sunrise. Commission cancelled $12,000 fine against Lighthouse Bcstg., former licensee of WBIC-AM, Royston, Ga., and admonished the company for failing to maintain operating Emergency Alert System (EAS) equipment and failing to reduce power during post sunset hours and discontinue operation at night.

FCC Fines: Minority Business and Housing Development Inc., licensee of WYGG-FM in Uniondale, N.Y., $13,000 for failing to install Emergency Alert System (EAS) equipment and failing to operate in accordance with FCC authorization… Omar Ebanks, Orlando, Fla., $10,000 for operating a radio station without Commission authorization… Scott Kamm, licensee of amateur station NOUGN, Sioux City, Iowa, $12,000 for “intentional interference,” transmitting music on his amateur station and failing to identify his station by call sign.

Correction: The FCC cancelled an $8,000 fine against Smith Bcstg. of Santa Barbara, Cal., rather than impose one, as reported (CD May 6 p9). The FCC agreed with the company that it had 60 days in which to operate while defective Emergency Alert System (EAS) equipment was being repaired.

FCC Fines: Assondieu Fortune, Naples, Fla., $10,000 for operating an FM radio station on frequency 105.9 MHz without Commission authorization. Smith Bcstg., Santa Barbara, Cal., $8,000 for failing to have operations Emergency Alert System (EAS) equipment at station KEYT-AM.

FCC Fines: Blue Ridge Erectors Inc., Bangor, Pa., $5,000 for operating radio transmitting equipment without FCC authorization; Morris Communications, Adrian, S.C., $2,400 for failing to register an antenna structure; L.T. Simes II and Raymond Simes, licensee of KAKJ-FM, Marianna, Ark., $3,000 for failing to ensure that Emergency Alert System (EAS) equipment was installed and operational, failing to register an antenna structure and failing to operating under the terms of FCC authorization; and Gold Coast Bcstg. Co., Santa Monica, Cal., $10,000 for failing to maintain specified painting on its antenna structure.