With Hurricane Gustav bearing down on the Gulf Coast, the Federal Communications Commission issued a reminder to communications providers, including broadcasters, of where to turn to receive Special Temporary Authorizations (STAs) to maintain service or put it back in place.
Providers needing emergency STAs or needing to consult FCC bureaus and offices about their recovery efforts on weekends or after hours can call the FCC’s Operations Center, which is open 24 hours a day, at 202-418-1122. During normal working hours, communications providers should visit www.fcc.gov/pshs/services/sta.html to receive more information on obtaining STAs.
In the days preceding Gustav making landfall, the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) activated the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS). The commission also urged wireless, wireline, broadcast and cable providers to participate in DIRS. The voluntary, Web-based system can be used to report communications infrastructure status and situational awareness information during times of crisis. To register, visit www.fcc.gov/nors/disaster.
For more information, visit www.fcc.gov.
