NAB is encouraging broadcasters to participate in the FCC’s Disaster Information Reporting System.
DIRS is a voluntary, Web-based system that communications companies — including TV, radio and cable, as well as wireless and wireline phone — can use to report communications infrastructure status during emergencies.
The federal government launched DIRS on Sept. 11, 2007, to help the FCC and the Department of Homeland Security's National Communications System get accurate information about the status of communications services during a major disaster, particularly during restoration efforts. The FCC, FEMA and local public safety officials rely on the information in DIRS to identify and help stations that need fuel, generators and other equipment during a crisis.
On July 14, a free, 30-minute webinar will be held starting at 3:30 p.m. EDT, to explain the benefits for broadcasters that participate in DIRS, and explain how to get a DIRS account and report a station's situation during a disaster.
Participants in the webinar will hear from John Healy, Communications Systems Analysis Division, of the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, as well as Larry Walke, NAB associate general counsel, and David Layer, senior director, advanced engineering, NAB.
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