Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) is seeking sources of high-speed communications hotline technology, which must provide incident notification simultaneously to hundreds of govt. personnel via landline, wireless and Web-based networks. For security reasons, alert system can’t have radiofrequency transmitters, but must allow for system access and activation through cellular and satellite phones “that terminate at telephone land lines and from the Internet via secure server.” DIA needs programmable system that at minimum can send messages to work, home and wireless phones and pagers of 600 personnel, with continuous transmissions until intended recipients acknowledge they have received emergency data. Potential sources must send information by April 5 -- 202-231-8458.
CTIA Pres. Tom Wheeler said that as carriers voluntarily provided priority access service (PAS) capacity to emergency service and national security personnel, federal govt. had to “get on with the allocation of additional spectrum” for that and other users. At New America Foundation lunch on spectrum policy Fri., he said federal govt. asked carriers after Sept. 11 to set aside “a minority of their spectrum in case of emergency” to provide access to prioritized national security and emergency workers. Trade-off for consumers, he said, is that as one of 5 priority classes of govt. users is occupying given channel, “then somebody else isn’t.”
FCC approved series of new Emergency Alert System (EAS) codes, including Child Abduction Emergency code. New rules permit, but don’t require, use of new codes, although EAS equipment installed after Feb. 1, 2004, must be able to receive and transmit new codes. Order also increases time period within which monthly EAS tests must be transmitted to 60 min. from 15 min., and authorizes cable systems with fewer than 5,000 subscribers to install EAS system with only decoder, rather than both decoder and encoder. Commission also exempted low-power FM stations from EAS requirement until one year after agency certified LPFM decoder and exempted from EAS equipment installation rules repeater stations that rebroadcast 100% of hub station’s programming.
Saying PTV’s “broadband-like” DTV services can provide high-speed access to rural areas, and homeland security, public broadcasters are making push for regulatory classification of PTV stations’ proposed high-speed educational services using DTV technology as broadband service. APTS Vp-Policy Marilyn Mohrman-Gillis said APTS hoped PTV would be included in any “funding opportunities” that might emerge in legislation to spur broadband deployment. In comments filed with NTIA, APTS urged agency to recognize distinction between advanced services and high- speed services within definition of broadband and to include one-way delivery of high-speed services using digital technology in definition.
FCC Chief of Staff Marsha MacBride told Public Safety National Coordination Committee (NCC) Fri. that public safety interoperability and other issues were part of emphasis of Commission’s homeland security efforts. MacBride was named by FCC Chmn. Powell in Nov. to head agency’s Homeland Security Policy Council. In presentation to NCC, MacBride outlined homeland security efforts that were stressing broader areas than in past for network protection, including mass media and wireless. Network Reliability & Interoperability Council (NRIC), which played key coordinating role during FCC’s Y2K efforts, is refocused on homeland security, including lessons learned and existing vulnerabilities, MacBride said. Composition of NRIC has shifted from historical wireline emphasis to include wireless, cable and Internet service providers, she said. In broadcasting and multichannel video programming, Commission is starting Federal Advisory Committee (FAC) to examine infrastructure reliability and security issues. Among other themes that emerged during NCC general membership meeting was need for better public safety interoperability, which has gained renewed public attention following Sept. 11 attacks.
Public safety and wireless experts led by ComCARE Alliance unveiled recommendations Tues. for bridging communications gaps among hospitals, public health agencies and emergency responders to respond to homeland security and other emergencies. Group called for electronic directories of emergency agencies that would allow federal, state and local officials to disseminate information on threats such as bioterrorism without “alerting the public on CNN or the emergency broadcast system.” At Washington news conference, officials said they wanted to be able to share mapping data to coordinate responses to incidents. ComCARE Founder David Aylward said group still was working on overall projection of program’s cost, but told reporters that for communications infrastructure, federal component could come to $150 million, including possible reprogramming of existing funds. Program, developed after emergency communications problems cropped up in Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, also calls for better training and increased deployment of 911 capabilities.
American Cable Assn. (ACA) is supporting NCTA and National Assn. for Deaf in their bid to ease financial burden on small cable operators by federal govt.’s requirements for emergency alert systems. However, in letter to FCC, ACA said any changes shouldn’t eliminate ability of small systems to seek EAS waivers from Commission on case-by-case basis. Like NCTA and NAD, ACA wants FCC to allow systems with fewer than 5,000 customers to install EAS decoder only to comply with EAS rules that take effect for small systems in Oct. ACA said current cost for EAS equipment and installation for smaller headends was $7,500-$10,000 and decoder-only option could decrease that cost 15%-20%. “For operators of hundreds and hundreds of very small headends, even these compliance costs will impose an impossible financial burden in 2002,” ACA Pres. Matthew Polka said.
Emergency Alert System (EAS) capability for cable systems is more important than ever in wake of Sept. 11 attacks, NCTA Pres. Robert Sachs said. He said cable systems had been important part of EAS for weather and similar emergencies and urged them to be ready for security emergencies. NCTA issued report to cable operators urging systems with more than 10,000 subscribers to be diligent in meeting requirements for monthly and weekly EAS system tests and urging smaller systems, which have deadline of Oct. 1 to install EAS equipment, to accelerate installation.
Subcommittees of Public Safety National Coordination Committee (NCC) worked through nitty-gritty issues Thurs. on how public safety agencies could use wideband data technology to talk to each other using applications such as text messaging and video conferencing. NCC subcommittees focused in day-long meetings in Brooklyn on encryption, standards, field trials, implementation and funding issues involving 24 MHz of spectrum dedicated to public safety at 700 MHz. Participants wrestled with challenges of addressing security and equipment standards in band for which interoperable wideband data equipment hasn’t yet been built, as industry awaits outcome of standards process. Meetings were run-up to NCC general membership meeting today (Fri.) that will provide broader feedback on how interoperability and communications for public safety systems worked in aftermath of Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
FCC ordered Willis Bcstg. to pay $25,000 fine for failing to comply with Emergency Alert System rules for WGRM(FM) Greenwood, Miss. Decision confirms notice of liability issued in July.