COAT Leaders Attend CSRIC, Critical FCC-Industry Federal Advisory Committee

On December 7, 2009, HLAA's Director of Public Policy & State Development, Lise Hamlin, attended an FCC federal advisory committee, the Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council (CSRIC), newly chartered for two years. HLAA is a founding and activist member of COAT. Also participating, was Marcia Brooks, Project Director at COAT affiliate WGBH Media Access Group. This introductory meeting was opened by FCC Commissioners (photo) and was well-attended.

CSRIC will focus on emergency alerting systems, a topic of critical importance to our community.  CSRIC will make recommendations to the FCC on security, reliability, and interoperability of communications systems such as for public safety, telecommunications and media communications.

Of the 55 CSRIC members, HLAA was among a very small group of consumer or public interest groups, alongside NAACP and the Center for Democracy & Technology. Most of CSRIC’s members are either wireless or wireline phone services providers, cable providers, broadcasters and other groups such as ATIS, TIA, and CTIA. Members include emergency management system coordinators, police, fire chiefs, public radio, and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. Federal agencies are also represented such as FEMA, DOT, Federal Reserve Board, HHS, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and DHS.

CSRIC's steering committee is chaired by Julie Thomas, VP for National Security/Government Affairs at AT&T, and Robert M. Gurss, Director at Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO).

This will be a critical federal advisory committee working on standards and other issues. COAT expects the committee to also address disability accessibility and related consumer issues, as appropriate, in its work. Lise Hamlin asks you to support her efforts on CSRIC, especially in the working committees. Please see list and description of CSRIC Working Groups in attached below and contact Lise Hamlin if you can help with subject  matter expertise or similar resources. Also attached below are FCC Commissioner McDowell's remarks.