CHARTER of The MEDIA SECURITY and RELIABILITY COUNCIL II
March 24, 2004
- 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:
- 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 other occurrences. Specifically, the Committee will:
- Issue a report identifying areas for attention and describing best practices recommendations for the prevention of disruptions or misuse of broadcast and MVPD services.
- Develop appropriate checklists and model documents that would be beneficial tools for the broadcast and MVPD industries to self-diagnose and address vulnerabilities in their facilities, including but not limited to a comprehensive vulnerability assessment checklist.
- Restoration. The Committee will report on mechanisms, techniques, and best practices that are necessary or desirable to effectively restore broadcast and MVPD services following disruptions caused by terrorist activities, natural disasters, or other occurrences. Specifically, the Committee will:
- Issue a report identifying areas for attention and describing best practices recommendations for disaster recovery and service restoration. In this regard, the Committee will evaluate and report on:
- Mechanisms and techniques that have been used in past disruptions to facilitate effective broadcast and MVPD service restorations.
- The use of redundant facilities by broadcasters and MVPDs, as well as any beneficial redundancies that exist between entities in different media industries.
- Develop appropriate checklists and model documents that would be beneficial in helping to effectively restore broadcast and MVPD services following disruptions, including but not limited to a model mutual assistance plan that could be tailored to the specific needs of local media entities and markets.
- 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 interfacing with broadcast and MVPD services during emergencies and operation of the emergency alert system.
- Outreach. The Committee and the FCC will jointly develop and execute an outreach plan designed to promote voluntary implementation of the Committee’s best practices recommendations by the broadcast and MVPD industries.
- 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.
- Official to Whom the Committee Reports
The Committee will report to the Chairman, Federal Communications Commission.
- 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
Estimated staff years that will be expended by the Committee are two (2) for the FCC staff and 12 for private sector and other governmental representatives. The estimated annual cost to the FCC of operating the committee 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 March 24, 2006.
- Date Original Charter Filed
March 26, 2002 (initial), March 24, 2004 (renewal).
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