Ensuring Operability During Catastrophic Events

[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
The House Homeland Security Committee's Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Science and Technology met on Wednesday to examine what the Federal government has done to ensure communications operability during catastrophic incidents. While many have focused on the critical problem of interoperable communications during disasters, interoperability presumes the existence of an operable communications network. Witnesses included representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Homeland Security and Federal Communications Commission. Ken Moran, the Director of the Federal Communications Commission’s Office of Homeland Security, testified. He describe some of the damage wrought by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to the communications industry and the Commission’s efforts to assist consumers, the industries the agency regulates, and other Federal agencies during this crisis. He also addressed the Commission’s efforts to ensure public safety operability during catastrophic events such as the recent hurricanes.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-261857A1.pdf