> Transcript of Closing Remarks of Michael K. Powell
>
> Chairman, Federal Communications Commission
>
> FCC Telecommunications Services Priority Summit
>
> Washington D.C.

Thursday, February 17, 2005

I think this summit is important simply because the issue of
telecommunications service priorities (TSPs) is essential to this
country's concerted and successful emergency response infrastructure.

In the eight years I have served on the Commission, I have seen our
responsibilities become more critically engaged in emergency response in
the communications sector.

The first way that I was drawn into this issue is when President Clinton
asked me to head up Y2K transformation for the communications sector, a
daunting challenge that we were largely able to meet. While our project
was a success and disaster was averted, the process imprinted on us a
deep understanding of how crucial it was to begin a much more focused
and concerted undertaking to bring our response systems, our Rolodexes,
our networks, our protocols and our systems up to date in order to
respond to that kind of threat to critical infrastructure.

If that was not bad enough, the events of 9/11 underscored the need to
create a unified communications sector capable of coping with emergency
response. I went to New York three or four days later and saw the
impact. We worked extensively with wireless carriers and Verizon in the
enormous task of restoring networks and working with public safety
officials and emergency response officials who were trying to manage the
communications challenges they had on the ground.

Ever since, the Commission has set out on a path to try to integrate
deeply, even into our policy proceedings, the importance of public
safety response and the importance of homeland security. We have also
worked to bring key stakeholders together and to try to empower further
the tools that are necessary to be successful. TSP is unequivocally one
of those services. But clearly, as we have heard today, we are not there
yet. In an area like homeland security, we should never be satisfied. I
don't think 80 per cent is good enough; I don't think 90 per cent is
good enough, and I don't think until we've reached the finish line
anyone should rest. This forum is critical for that purpose.

I want to commend the Department of Homeland Security for their efforts
to fund and equip public safety for this capability.

I would like to conclude with two points:

First and foremost, there is no doubt that TSP can be an extraordinary
tool for emergency communications among key officials and can do a great
deal to minimize disruptions in communications from key players at key
moments in time. I was first exposed to it in Y2K, I have used it, I
have been a part of it, and I can speak from personal experience that it
is something that we really want to achieve.

Secondly, we have heard that TSP is not sufficiently deployed to our
satisfaction, and that there are many groups that are not in the system
that should be in the system. We must dedicate ourselves to getting the
widest distribution and use as possible. If we do not reach the 100 per
cent level, our mission will not be complete.

I am glad that you have come together. I want to commend the people who
played a central role in today's forum: Commissioner Connie Hughes, a
great friend and colleague, and other members of the panel. I really
appreciate the efforts of Ed Thomas, Chief of our Office of Engineering
and Technology, Ken Moran of OET, and all of our experts from the public
safety and the national security community. You have all provided a
great service to the Commission and to America and I thank you for it.

This is not the end, of course; it is just the beginning. The Commission
is here to lend its support.

Thank you for letting me conclude this important conference for you.

\- FCC -