Broadcasters Brainstorm On Emergency Practices

While the FCC and Congress have been looking toward the future of a digital, pan-media emergency communications system, broadcasters will be brainstorming in Oklahoma City on how to do the best with the tools they presently have. The Media Security and Reliability Council was formed by then FCC Chairman Michael Powell after 9/11, when a number of New York stations were laid low by the terrorist attack. Its members include broadcast and cable executives, association executives, and others. Its goal: "To prepare a comprehensive national strategy for securing and sustaining Broadcast and MVPD [cable, satellite, telco, microwave] facilities throughout the United States during terrorist attacks, natural disasters and all other threats or attacks nationwide." The expected work product: Emergency preparedness plans for all 210 broadcast markets on the best way to get the information out and how to keep the facilities up and running. Broadcasters have been encouraged to be proactive and to contact their local fire and safety officials to set up a plan. The FCC already has to sign off on state emergency communications plans, and there are a handful of regional ones as well.
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* For more on the Media Security and Reliability Council, see:
http://www.mediasecurity.org/
* Hard News the Hard Way
For Rita, planning and improvisation helped.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6261996.html?display=News&ref...
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