Public Safety & Homeland Security

Communications during emergencies and crises must be available for public safety, health, defense, and emergency personnel, as well as all consumers in need. The Nation’s critical communications infrastructure must be reliable, interoperable, redundant, and rapidly restorable.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Americans were reminded of the importance of reliable, readily available, and interoperable communications - for emergency personnel responding to the tragedy, for individuals communicating with family and friends, and for the Nation as a whole, anxious to stay informed of ongoing events on a minute-by-minute basis. The telecommunications, broadcast, and cable industries that the Commission regulates are critically important to our national well being in times of crisis. The reliance of numerous other critical industries, including banking, transportation, and energy, on the communications infrastructure further underscores the importance of that infrastructure and the FCC’s role in ensuring that it is operational.

To fully and effectively carry out its role in promoting homeland security, network protection, interoperability, redundancy, and reliability, the FCC has established the following strategic objectives:

• Develop policies that promote access to effective communications services in emergency situations by public safety, health, defense, and other emergency personnel, as well as all consumers in need.

• Evaluate and strengthen measures for protecting the Nation’s critical communications infrastructure.

• Facilitate rapid restoration of the U.S. communications infrastructure and facilities after disruption by any cause.

• Coordinate with industry and other federal, state, tribal, and local agencies on matters of public safety, homeland security, and disaster management.

• Act swiftly in matters affecting public safety, homeland security, and disaster management.

• Participate in international organizations and conferences to coordinate protection of the global communications infrastructure.

• Visit the Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau Website for the most recent releases on this subject.

• Visit the News Archive for previous headlines related to the FCC's Public Safety & Homeland Security Strategic Goal.

On July 10, 2003, the Commission announced its Homeland Security Action Plan. The Plan defines the Commission’s homeland security goals as well as the approach it will take to achieve these goals. The Plan relies heavily on partnerships with other government entities, industry, and citizen groups.

• Action Plan: Word | Acrobat

• Chairman Powell Statement: Word | Acrobat

• FCC Establishes Office of Homeland Security; James Dailey Named Director.
  News Release: Word | Acrobat

• Commissioner Copps Statement: Word | Acrobat

• At the July 10, 2003, Commission meeting, HSPC Director, Marsha MacBride, presented a report on the Commission's homeland security efforts, accomplishments, and plans.
  Presentation: Acrobat | PowerPoint