In an event noteworthy for the attendance of numerous major media executives, the new Media Security and Reliability Council held its first meeting and told FCC Chairman Michael Powell they would bring back recommendations in 18 months to ensure reliable communications even after another Sept. 11-type event.
If comments at the council's meeting were any indication, system redundancy is likely to be at the top of its list. In New York, for example, broadcasters said they favor two complete antennas and towers and even a second master control completely outside the city.
They noted that New York stations formerly broadcasting from the World Trade Center are still not back to the reach they had before Sept. 11, and are considering locations on Governor's Island or in Liberty State Park in New Jersey. Any such facility will have to be within about three miles of the World Trade Center site.
The council includes such industry giants as News Corp. President Rupert Murdoch, NBC President Robert Wright, Viacom President Mel Karmazin, Disney President Michael Eisner and the head of several industry groups.
The council even has one member with a background in public safety: Harlan McEwen, of the International Association of the Chiefs of Police.
