Editorial Focus - Communications
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS Provided by the Federal Communications Commission Background
During emergencies, the importance of our country’s communications sys‐ tems becomes clear. These communi‐ cations systems include the wireline and wireless telephone networks, broadcast and cable television, radio, satellite systems, and increasingly the Internet. For example, in an emer‐ gency, we may dial 911, call our family members to make sure they are safe, and turn on our televisions and radios
28 EMS PRO Magazine
to get breaking news and important updates. Although our communica‐ tions systems are among the world’s most extensive and dependable, unusual conditions can put a strain on them.
Since September 11, 2001, and Hurricane Katrina, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has taken important steps to ensure that 911 services remain operational when disasters strike. For example, in response to recommendations of an
independent panel reviewing the impact of Hurricane Katrina, the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) is working on several fronts to improve communications dur‐ ing emergencies, including streamlin‐ ing collection of outage information during times of crisis through the Disaster Information Reporting System, helping ensure that communi‐ cations workers receive “essential per‐ sonnel” credentials during emergen‐ cies, working with other federal agen‐
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