[Federal Register: August 1, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 147)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 43406-43407]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01au06-24]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Parts 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25,
27, 52, 53, 54, 63, 64, 68, 73, 74, 76, 78, 79, 90, 95, 97 and 101
[EB Docket No. 06-119; DA 06-1524]
Recommendations of the Independent Panel Reviewing the Impact of
Hurricane Katrina on Communications Networks
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule; comments requested.
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SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission
(Commission) reminds parties about the comment cycle applicable to the
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking comment on the
recommendations of the Independent Panel Reviewing the Impact of
Hurricane Katrina on Communications Networks (Independent Panel). In
addition, the Commission requests that, in addressing the issues raised
in the NPRM, parties address the applicability of the Panel's
recommendations to all types of natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes,
tornados, hurricanes, forest fires) as well as other types of incidents
(e.g., terrorist attacks, flu pandemic, industrial accidents, etc.).
Parties should also discuss whether the Panel's recommendations are
broad enough to take into account the diverse topography of our Nation,
the susceptibility of a region to a particular type of disaster, and
the multitude of
[[Page 43407]]
communications capabilities a region may possess.
DATES: Comments are due on or before August 7, 2006 and reply comments
are due on or before August 21, 2006. Written comments on the Paperwork
Reduction Act proposed information collection requirements set forth in
the NPRM [71 FR 38564, 38565, July 7, 2006] must be submitted by the
public, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and other interested
parties on or before September 5, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Send comments and reply comments to the Office of the
Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW.,
Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. You may submit comments, identified
by EB Docket No. 06-119, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Federal Communications Commission's Web site: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/.
Following the instructions for submitting
comments.
People with Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request
reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language
interpreters, CART, etc.) by e-mail; FCC504@fcc.gov or phone: 202-418-
0530 or TTY: 202-418-0432.
In addition to filing with the Secretary, a copy of any comments on
the Paperwork Reduction Act information collection requirements
contained in the NPRM [71 FR at 38565, July 7, 2006] should be
submitted to Judith B. Herman, Federal Communications Commission, Room
1-B441, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554, or via the Internet
to PRA@fcc.gov, and to Kristy L. LaLonde, OMB Desk Officer, Room 10234,
NEOB, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503, via the Internet to
Kristy--L.-- LaLonde@omb. eop.gov or fax at 202-395-5167.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa M. Fowlkes, Assistant Bureau
Chief, Enforcement Bureau, at (202) 418-7452. For additional
information concerning the Paperwork Reduction Act information
collection requirements contained in the NPRM [71 FR at 38565, July 7,
2006], contact Judith B. Herman at (202) 418-0214 or via the Internet
at PRA@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Public
Notice in EB Docket No. 06-119, DA 06-1524 released July 26, 2006. The
complete text of this document, as well as a complete text of the NPRM
is available for inspection and copying during normal business hours in
the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW.,
Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. This document may also be purchased
from the Commission's duplicating contractor Best Copy and Printing,
Inc., Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC
20554, telephone (800) 378-3160 or (202) 488-5300, facsimile (202) 488-
5563, or via e-mail at fcc@bciweb.com. It is also available on the
Commission's Web site at http://www.fcc.gov. The Initial Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis as well as proposed information collection
requirements were set forth in the NPRM [71 FR at 38565, 38568-38573,
July 7, 2006].
Synopsis of the Public Notice
In January 2006, Chairman Kevin J. Martin established the
Independent Panel pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act,
Public Law 92-463, as amended. The mission of the Independent Panel was
to review the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the telecommunications and
media infrastructure in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina and
make recommendations to the Commission. On June 12, 2006, the
Independent Panel submitted its Report to the Commission. On June 19,
2006, the Commission issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking initiating
a comprehensive rulemaking to address and implement the recommendations
presented by the Independent Panel. [71 FR 38564, July 7, 2006]
In the NPRM, the Commission sought comment on what actions it can
take to address the Independent Panel's recommendations which were
categorized into four areas: (1) Pre-positioning the communications
industry and the government for disasters in order to achieve greater
network reliability and resiliency; (2) improving recovery coordination
to address existing shortcomings and to maximize the use of existing
resources; (3) improving the operability or interoperability of public
safety and 911 communications in times of crisis; and (4) improving
communication of emergency information to the public. As the Commission
stated in the Notice, its goal in this proceeding is to take the
lessons learned from this disaster and build upon them to promote more
effective, efficient response and recovery efforts, as well as a
heightened readiness and preparedness in the future. The Commission
also stated that it seeks comment whether it should rely on voluntary
consensus recommendations, as advocated by the Independent Panel, or
whether it should rely on other measures for enhancing readiness and
promoting more effective response efforts.
In light of the Commission's comprehensive examination into these
areas, we request that parties filing comments in this proceeding
address the applicability of the Independent Panel's recommendations to
all types of disasters. Specifically, parties should address not only
the applicability of the Independent Panel's recommendations to areas
of the country subject to hurricanes, but to areas prone to other types
of disasters. Would other types of disasters warrant modifications or
other changes to the Independent Panel's recommendations? For example,
would the characteristics of earthquakes, floods, forest fires, or
other natural disasters require modifications to the Independent
Panel's recommendations? In addition, we request that parties filing
comments discuss the impact of the country's diverse topography on the
Independent Panel's recommendations. Would a region's topography
warrant modifications or other changes to the Independent Panel's
recommendations? If additional steps are warranted to account for
unique topography, what actions can the Commission take to improve
network resiliency and reliability, recovery coordination, first
responder communications and emergency communications to the public in
those areas? Finally, different regions may have different
communications capabilities. For example, a metropolitan urban area may
have greater and diverse communications capabilities than a rural,
mountainous region. Would the availability of different communications
capabilities in a region affect the Independent Panel's
recommendations? If so, what actions should be taken in this regard?
Finally, comments in this proceeding are due on or before August 7,
2006 and reply comments are due on or before August 21, 2006.
Federal Communications Commission
Kris Anne Monteith,
Chief, Enforcement Bureau.
[FR Doc. E6-12447 Filed 7-31-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P