FCC to Unveil Media Homeland Security Measures

The final round of recommendations for preserving a communications conduit to citizens in the wake of national disaster will be put before a special FCC committee next Thursday. The Media Security and Reliability Council (MSRC), a federal advisory committee that reports to FCC Chairman Michael Powell, was formed in the wake of 9/11 to ensure the dependability of the nation's media infrastructure and to create a national warning system that encompassed electronic media forms. Two committees within the Council were formed to focus on the structural and communicative issues separately.

The Communications Infrastructure Security, Access and Restoration Working Group will recommend best practices pertaining to the physical security of the country's 1,600 TV stations, 10,300 cable head-ends, 16,000 radio stations and its nationwide DBS and satellite radio service

The Public Communications and Safety Working Group will report to the Council on an upcoming workshop in which existing MSRC guidelines are demonstrated using Tampa, Fla. as a model.

Council members have until Nov. 26 to vote on the recommendations.

The meeting will convene from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Federal Communications Commission, in the Commission Meeting Room at 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, and is open to the public. The public may submit written comments before the meeting to Barbara Kreisman, the Commission's Designated Federal Officer for MSRC.

The meeting will also be streamed on the FCC's Web site.