The FCC’s Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) July 14, 2009

1. The FCC’s Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS)July 14, 2009

2. Today’s speakers • Larry Walke – Associate General Counsel, NAB • John Healy – Communications Systems Analysis Division, Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau, FCC • David Layer – Senior Director, Advanced Engineering, NAB

3. The Purpose & History of DIRS

4. DIRS • Purposes: • To collect and provide information on status of communications infrastructure during major disasters • Be a conduit for passing information between communications providers and government agencies • Properties: • Voluntary • Web-Based

5. Scope of DIRS • Communications status in a disaster area • Broadcast – AM, FM, TV stations • Wireline carriers (switches, facilities, blocking) • 911 Network - PSAPs • Wireless (switches, cell sites by county) • CATV systems

6. Process during Katrina(before DIRS) • Daily phone calls to find out radio and TV station status • Information manually summarized • Companies sometimes contacted by several agencies • No direct way for companies to request assistance • Labor intensive process

7. Why Develop DIRS • Need information on status of communications • Need daily updates • Need process to be automated • Need consistent data • Need the “right” points-of-contact • Need a way for companies to ask for assistance, e.g., need a generator

8. Prior DIRS Activations • 2008 activations: • Tropical Storm Fay • Hurricane Gustav • Hurricane Ike • 2009 activations (so far): • Kentucky ice storm

9. FCC Notifies Companies FCC Notifies Companies Companies Access DIRS Companies Input Data FCC Generates Tables & Input for Reports Generate Report, Charts, Maps Disaster reporting process Disaster Data Collection Disaster Data Collection Activated Activated Company Activity Done Daily FCC Activity NCS Activity NCS Write Formal Report Send Info to White House/JTRB, ESF2 Agencies

10. What happens if DIRS is activated? • E-mail sent to all active contacts in DIRS containing the URL of DIRS • Users will be given a date and time when the first set of reports is due • The e-mail will state that updates are due daily • Public Notice will be issued

11. Why is DIRS Good for Broadcasters?

12. DIRS • Simple process • Easy to sign-up • Easy to update during disaster • Identify station’s needs (fuel, generator, etc.)

13. DIRS • Helps federal agencies manage disasters • FCC, FEMA, other public safety officials can potentially help broadcasters • Helps coordination with other communications service providers

14. Signing up for DIRS

15. Finding DIRS • https://www.fcc.gov/nors/disaster/-or- • Google “FCC DIRS” – should be first suggestion -or- • Start from www.fcc.gov: • Select “Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau” • Select “Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS)”

16. FCC home page

17. PS&HS Bureauhome page

18. DIRS home page

19. DIRS login page

20. New user page

21. New user page Reporting Company – new users can IGNORE this field

22. New user page Reporting Company – new users can IGNORE this field

23. New user page New Company – new users enter their company name here (best to enter frequency and call sign for an individual station)

24. New user page Company ID – Only used for stations that are being coordinated as a group; others just ignore this field. Type of Company – select “Broadcaster”

25. New user page Contact info – enter information for person who will be primarily responsible for DIRS access at station

26. New user page Hit SUBMIT when form is completed

27. Signing up • Once you SUBMIT new user form, you will immediately see a window assigning you a USERNAME and PASSWORD. • These can be changed when you login to DIRS • Contact John Healy for information about managing groups

28. Using DIRS

29. Using DIRS • Only use DIRS when activated (for your area) by FCC • FCC contacts registered users by email when DIRS is activated (also when deactivated)

30. Using DIRS

33. Using DIRS • When DIRS is activated for your area, provide daily updates • To do so: • LOGIN • Select “Display/Update Reports” • Select “Disaster” and “Report Type” (Broadcast) and RETRIEVE • Enter information

34. DIRS login page

35. Main menu

36. Add/Update

37. Add/Update

38. Add/Update Facility ID – FCC facility identifier Type of Service – select “Broadcast” Status – choices are “up,” “down,” “down but programming sent to another transmitter” Power Status of Transmitter – choices are “on commercial,” “no power,” “on generator,” “on battery,” “unknown”

39. Add/Update Generator available – choices are “yes,” ‘no,” “not applicable,” “unknown” Fuel – choices are “no fuel,” “adequate fuel/adequate delivery,” “inadequate fuel/adequate delivery,” “adequate fuel/ delivery risk,”“inadequate fuel/ delivery risk,” “unknown”

40. Add/Update Hit SUBMIT when form is completed

41. DIRS • Questions?

42. Additional Information • Larry Walke: • Tel 202-429-5313 • Email lwalke@nab.org • John Healy: • Tel 202-418-2448 • Email john.healy@fcc.gov • David Layer: • Tel 202-429-5339 • Email dlayer@nab.org