WASHINGTON: The broadcast lobby is teaming up with federal regulators to promote the government’s disaster reporting system. The National Association of Broadcasters will host a 30-minute Webcast on the Disaster Information Reporting System. Officials from the Federal Communications Commission and NAB will be on hand for the Tuesday, July 14 informational event.
The DIRS is a voluntary, Web-based system launched in 2007 for broadcasters to report their operational status, and to obtain resources needed to stay on the air during times of disaster.
The Webcast will include a run-through of the process for obtaining a DIRS account, as well as information on how to report a station's status during times of crises. Participants will also have the opportunity to engage in a live question and answer session with NAB staff and FCC officials.
John Healy, with the FCC’s Communications Systems Analysis Division of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau will be among panelists, along with Larry Wilke, general counsel at NAB, and David Layer, a senior director of advanced engineering at NAB.
“In times of crises, Americans rely on local broadcasters to deliver critical information that can help save lives,” said NAB Executive Vice President Dennis Wharton. “We encourage all broadcasters to participate in this voluntary DIRS program to help ensure that radio and television stations across the country will be able to provide continuous service to communities when disaster strikes.”
The Webcast, held at 3:30 p.m. Eastern, available to both members and non-members of NAB. Additional information is available at the Webcast site.
-- Deborah D. McAdams
