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| <p><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong>: DA-08-1958</p> |
| <p>August 22, 2008 <strong>NEWS MEDIA CONTACT</strong></p> |
| <p>Robert Kenny: (202) 418-2668</p> |
| <p>Email: Robert.kenny@fcc.gov</p> |
| <p><strong>THE FCC’S PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU ANNOUNCES THE ACTIVATION OF THE DISASTER INFORMATION REPORTING SYSTEM (DIRS) IN RESPONSE TO TROPICAL STORM FAY</strong></p> |
| <p>Washington, DC – The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) of the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) has announced the activation of the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) in response to Tropical Storm Fay. DIRS is a voluntary, efficient, web-based system that communications providers, including wireless, wireline, broadcast, and cable providers, can use to report communications infrastructure status and situational awareness information during times of crises. </p> |
| <p>The Commission requests that communications providers expeditiously submit and update information through DIRS regarding, <em>inter alia</em>, the status of their communications equipment, restoration efforts, power (<em>i.e</em>., whether they are using commercial power, generator or battery), and access to fuel, if they provide service in the following Florida counties: Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington, Bay, Jackson, Calhoun, Liberty, Gulf, Franklin, Gadsden, Leon, Wakulla, Jefferson, Madison, Taylor, Hamilton, Suwannee, Lafayette, Dixie, Columbia, Union, Bradford, Gilchrist, Alachua, Levy, Marion, Sumter, Lake, Seminole, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Hardee, Highlands, Volusia, and Brevard. Communications providers can accomplish this by accessing DIRS at HYPERLINK "https://www.fcc.gov/nors/disaster/" https://www.fcc.gov/nors/disaster/ or under e-filing on the Commission’s main webpage or PSHSB webpage. Providers that have not previously done so will be asked to first provide contact information and obtain a User ID when they access DIRS. </p> |
| <p>Communications providers that serve areas in Brevard County and that have already provided contact information in DIRS will be sent an e-mail requesting that they provide the above-referenced status information through DIRS. We encourage all communications providers that have not already logged onto DIRS to input their contact information, do so as soon as possible. </p> |
| <p>For further information, please contact Jean Ann Collins of the PSHSB’s Communications Systems Analysis Division at (202) 418-2792 or JeanAnn.Collins@fcc.gov.</p> |
| <p>- FCC -</p> |
| <p>On July 21, 2007, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the DIRS information collection under OMB Control Number 3060-1003. This OMB approval expires on July 31, 2010. </p> |
| <p>Because the information that communications companies input to DIRS is sensitive, for national security and/or commercial reasons, DIRS filings shall be treated as presumptively confidential upon filing. <em>See</em> The FCC’s Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau Launches the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS), <em>Public Notice</em>, DA 07-3871, 22 FCC Rcd 16757 (2007).</p> |
| <p>The Commission requests that communications providers (wireline carriers, wireless carriers, broadcasters, and cable system operators) that choose to participate in DIRS provide contact information for any and all individuals in each company who would be providing information on the status of communications equipment in the event of a disaster. Contact information includes contact name, company name, phone number, cell phone number, Blackberry/pager number, and e-mail address. This information will be secured by the Commission and protected from public release. </p> |
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| <p><strong>PUBLIC NOTICE</strong></p> |
| <p><strong>Federal Communications Commission</strong></p> |
| <p><strong>445 12</strong><strong>th</strong><strong> St., S.W.</strong></p> |
| <p><strong>Washington, D.C. 20554</strong></p> |
| <p><strong>News Media Information 202 / 418-0500</strong></p> |
| <p><strong>Internet: http://www.fcc.gov</strong></p> |
| <p><strong>TTY: 1-888-835-5322</strong></p> |
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