NAB Encouraging Broadcaster Participation
in the FCC's Disaster Information Reporting
System (DIRS)

NAB is encouraging broadcasters to participate in the FCC's Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS). A free 30-minute webinar will be held on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 starting at 3:30 p.m. EDT, to explain the benefits for broadcasters that participate in DIRS, and provide step-by-step instructions for obtaining a DIRS account and reporting a station's situation during a major disaster. Additional information on this webinar including how to sign up is available on the Internet at www.tvworldwide.com/events/nab/dirs/090714/.

DIRS was launched on September 11, 2007 to help the FCC and the Department of Homeland Security's National Communications System (NCS) obtain accurate information regarding the status of communications services during a major disaster, particularly during restoration efforts. DIRS is a voluntary, web-based system that communications companies, including wireless, wireline, broadcast, and cable providers, can use to report communications infrastructure status and situational awareness information during times of crisis. The FCC, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and local public safety officials rely on the information in DIRS to identify and help broadcast stations in need of fuel, generators and other needed equipment during times of emergencies.

Data entry into DIRS is facilitated by the use of templates that are tailored for different communications sectors (i.e., wireless, wireline, broadcast, and cable). Participating communications providers initially log onto the system to provide emergency contact information. When DIRS is activated (during a major disaster), participating communications providers that serve areas affected by the disaster will be able to voluntarily submit information regarding the status of their communications equipment, restoration efforts, power (i.e., whether they are using commercial power, generator or battery), and access to fuel. During an activation, participants need only update their DIRS information once a day, and this may be done remotely by anyone with access to the Internet and with knowledge of the username and password for the facility (chosen during initial login). Since its inception, DIRS has been activated three times - during hurricanes Gustav (August 2008) and Ike (September 2008), and during the Kentucky ice storms in February, 2009.

Because the information that communications companies input to DIRS is sensitive, for national security and/or commercial reasons, DIRS filings are treated as confidential, however, information submitted to DIRS may be shared with the NCS on a confidential basis.

Participants in the webinar will hear from the following experts from the FCC and NAB, and will have the opportunity to engage in live Q&A throughout the session: