S. 4691: Disaster Communications Coordination and Preparedness Act

This bill, known as the Disaster Communications Coordination and Preparedness Act, aims to improve how federal communications resources are coordinated and understood during disasters and emergencies. Here’s a breakdown of the key provisions:

Short Title

The Act is officially titled the Disaster Communications Coordination and Preparedness Act.

Definitions

The bill provides definitions for key terms used, including:

• Commission: Refers to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
• DIRS: Stands for the Disaster Information Reporting System, a system that facilitates information reporting during disasters.
• Mandatory Disaster Response Initiative: Refers to specific requirements under existing FCC regulations for disaster response.

Review of DIRS Activation Notices

The FCC is required to review and potentially update its procedures for issuing activation and deactivation notices related to DIRS within 180 days of the bill's enactment. In this review, the FCC will consult:

• Communications providers that report into DIRS.
• Emergency management authorities at various levels (state, local, tribal, and territorial).

The FCC will also consider how to improve the format and content of DIRS notices to enhance usability.

This section clarifies that the FCC is not obliged to adopt new regulations or lose discretion regarding DIRS activation.

Enhanced Coordination with Public Safety Entities

The FCC must evaluate the feasibility of enhancing its public safety liaison functions within 18 months of the bill's passage. This could include:

• Providing a clear point of entry for officials seeking information about communication statuses during emergencies.
• Facilitating better coordination between emergency officials and communication service providers before, during, and after disasters.

As with previous sections, this part avoids imposing new reporting requirements on communications service providers.

Development of Disaster and Emergency Communications Awareness Materials

Within one year of the enactment, the FCC is tasked with creating easily understandable materials to help emergency management authorities understand federal communication resources. These materials should include:

• The purpose and operation of DIRS, including its impact on the operations of communication providers and public safety authorities.
• Details of information available during a DIRS activation, along with its limitations.
• Access instructions for reports and other information produced during DIRS activations.
• Information about the Mandatory Disaster Response Initiative and how it supports communication restoration during emergencies.
• Resources and coordination capabilities available through the FCC, such as points of contact and 24-hour operations.
• General communication capabilities and services that aid public safety during disasters.

The FCC is expected to consult with communication providers and emergency management authorities while developing these materials.

Rule of Construction

The bill includes provisions that ensure it does not require the Commission to impose new regulations or modify existing ones regarding DIRS or the Mandatory Disaster Response Initiative.

Relevant Companies

None found.