FCC votes to create communications network bureau for homeland security | 03.21.2006 | 08:38:34 | Views: 5331 | ID: March 21 '06: The Washington Post reported last week that the Federal Communications Commission "voted to create a public safety and homeland security bureau within the agency to help it respond faster to natural disasters and terrorist attacks, and to better prepare for emergencies." Since the attacks on 9/11 and after the 2005 hurricane season, federal officials have been working to increase the level of information sharing and communication among agencies. The move by the FCC is one part of a larger federal effort to create a more open and transparent information-sharing system. Wireless Week reported last week FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, saying in his first press briefing since taking control of the commission, that one of the goals of the commission is to continue support the establishment "of a centralized control point for communications networks at the agency." The new bureau would be divided into three divisions: policy; public communications outreach and operations; and communications systems and analysis division, according to Fednews-online.com. The bureau will still have to pass Congressional approval. Some of the functions of the bureau will be to address public safety and emergency communications as well as the formalization of an emergency warning system which will help with coordination of disaster management outreach. The bureau would also focus on creating a wireless network resistant and redundant enough to survive during a major crisis such as a hurricane.
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