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CHARTER of The MEDIA SECURITY and RELIABILITY COUNCIL
March 26, 2002
- The Committee's Official Designation
The official designation of the advisory committee will be the "Media Security and Reliability Council."
- The Committee's Objective and Scope of its Activity
The purpose of the Committee is to give members of the broadcast and multichannel video programming distribution ("MVPD") industries the opportunity to provide recommendations to the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") and their industries that, when implemented, will assure optimal reliability, robustness and security of broadcast and MVPD facilities. These recommendations will be based on, among other things, homeland defense and security considerations, and will take into account all reasonably foreseeable circumstances. This will encompass ensuring the security and sustainability of broadcast and MVPD facilities throughout the United States; ensuring the availability of adequate transmission capability during events or periods of exceptional stress due to natural disaster, man-made attacks or similar occurrences; and facilitating the rapid restoration of broadcast and MVPD services in the event of widespread or major disruptions. The Committee will address topics in the following areas:
- Security
- Prevention. The Committee will report on best practices designed to address vulnerabilities in broadcast and MVPD facilities, including how best to address those vulnerabilities to prevent disruptions or misuse that would otherwise result from terrorist activities, natural disasters, or similar types of occurrences.
- In this regard, the Committee will conduct a survey of current practices by broadcasters and MVPDs that address the homeland defense concerns articulated above.
- Within eighteen (18) months of its first meeting, the Committee will issue a report identifying areas for attention and describing best practices, with checklists, that should be followed to prevent disruptions or misuse of broadcast and MVPD services as a result of terrorist activities, natural disasters, or similar types of occurrences.
- Restoration. The Committee will report on current disaster recovery mechanisms, techniques, and best practices and develop any additional mechanisms, techniques, and best practices that are necessary or desirable to more effectively restore broadcast and MVPD services following disruptions caused by terrorist activities, natural disasters, or similar types of occurrences.
- The Committee will report on any initiatives that may be appropriate to facilitate effective broadcast and MVPD service restorations. The Committee will issue this report within eighteen (18) months after its first meeting.
- The Committee will issue a report containing best practices recommendations, and recommended mechanisms and techniques (including checklists), for disaster recovery and service restoration. The Committee will issue this report within eighteen (18) months after its first meeting.
- The Committee will prepare and institute mechanisms for maintaining and distributing contact information for industry personnel who are, or may be, essential to effective broadcast and MVPD service restoration efforts within eighteen (18) months of the Committee's first meeting.
- Public Safety. The Committee will pay particular attention to such actions that may be necessary or desirable to ensure that broadcast and MVPD facilities can meet the special needs of public safety emergency communications. This includes issues relating to public safety usage of broadcast and MVPD services during emergencies and operation of the emergency alert system.
- Reliability
- The Committee will evaluate, and report on, beneficial redundancies within the broadcast and MVPD industries. This evaluation and report shall include the availability of adequate transmission capability during events or periods of exceptional stress due to natural disaster, man-made attacks or similar occurrences. The Committee will issue this report within eighteen (18) months after its first meeting.
- The Committee will prepare and provide recommendations for ensuring the future reliability of broadcast and MVPD services within eighteen (18) months after its first meeting.
- Other Topics
- The Committee will make recommendations with respect to such additional topics as the FCC may specify. These topics may include requests for recommendations and technical advice on issues that may arise from the convergence of technologies, and how the FCC may best fulfill its responsibilities, particularly with respect to national defense and safety of life and property (including law enforcement) under the Communications Act.
- The Committee will assemble data and other information, perform analyses, and provide recommendations and advice to the FCC and broadcast and MVPD industries concerning the foregoing.
- Period of Time Necessary for the Committee to Carry Out its Purpose
The Committee will require two years to carry out the purposes for which it has been created. If additional time becomes necessary, the charter will be renewed accordingly.
- Official to Whom the Committee Reports
The Committee will report to the Chairman and/or to the Defense Commissioner of the FCC.
- Agency Responsible for Providing Necessary Support
The FCC will provide the necessary support for the Committee, including the facilities needed for the conduct of the meetings of the committee. Private sector members of the committee will serve without any government compensation and will not be entitled to travel expenses or per diem or subsistence allowances.
- Description of the Duties for Which the Committee is Responsible
The duties of the Committee will be to gather the data and information necessary to prepare studies, reports, and recommendations for assuring the optimal security and reliability of facilities, and the restoration of damaged or impaired broadcast and MVPD services, within the parameters set forth in Section B, above. The Committee will also monitor future developments to ensure that the security and reliability of broadcast and MVPD facilities are not at risk.
- Estimated Annual Operating Costs in Dollars and Staff Years
The estimated annual cost to the FCC of operating the committee, including estimated staff time, is $200,000.
- Estimated Number and Frequency of Committee Meetings
The Committee will meet at least two times per year. Informal subcommittees may meet more frequently to facilitate the work of the Committee.
- Committee's Termination Date
The Committee will terminate two years from the date of filing with Congress and shall be subject to renewal upon request.
- Date Original Charter Filed
March 26, 2002
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