**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**: DA-08-1958

August 22, 2008 **NEWS MEDIA CONTACT**

Robert Kenny: (202) 418-2668

Email: [Robert.kenny@fcc.gov]{.underline}

**THE FCC'S PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU ANNOUNCES THE
ACTIVATION OF THE DISASTER INFORMATION REPORTING SYSTEM (DIRS) IN
RESPONSE TO TROPICAL STORM FAY**

Washington, DC -- The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB)
of the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) has announced the
activation of the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS) in
response to Tropical Storm Fay. DIRS is a voluntary, efficient,
web-based system that communications providers, including wireless,
wireline, broadcast, and cable providers, can use to report
communications infrastructure status and situational awareness
information during times of crises.[^1]

The Commission requests that communications providers expeditiously
submit and update information through DIRS regarding, *inter alia*, the
status of their communications equipment, restoration efforts, power
(*i.e*., whether they are using commercial power, generator or battery),
and access to fuel, if they provide service in the following Florida
counties: Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington,
Bay, Jackson, Calhoun, Liberty, Gulf, Franklin, Gadsden, Leon, Wakulla,
Jefferson, Madison, Taylor, Hamilton, Suwannee, Lafayette, Dixie,
Columbia, Union, Bradford, Gilchrist, Alachua, Levy, Marion, Sumter,
Lake, Seminole, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Hardee, Highlands, Volusia, and
Brevard.[^2] Communications providers can accomplish this by accessing
DIRS at <https://www.fcc.gov/nors/disaster/> or under e-filing on the
Commission's main webpage or PSHSB webpage. Providers that have not
previously done so will be asked to first provide contact information
and obtain a User ID when they access DIRS.[^3]

Communications providers that serve areas in Brevard County and that
have already provided contact information in DIRS will be sent an e-mail
requesting that they provide the above-referenced status information
through DIRS. We encourage all communications providers that have not
already logged onto DIRS to input their contact information, do so as
soon as possible.

For further information, please contact Jean Ann Collins of the PSHSB's
Communications Systems Analysis Division at (202) 418-2792 or
JeanAnn.Collins@fcc.gov.

\- FCC -

[^1]: On July 21, 2007, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
    approved the DIRS information collection under OMB Control Number
    3060-1003. This OMB approval expires on July 31, 2010.

[^2]: Because the information that communications companies input to
    DIRS is sensitive, for national security and/or commercial reasons,
    DIRS filings shall be treated as presumptively confidential upon
    filing. *See* The FCC's Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau
    Launches the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS), *Public
    Notice*, DA 07-3871, 22 FCC Rcd 16757 (2007).

[^3]: The Commission requests that communications providers (wireline
    carriers, wireless carriers, broadcasters, and cable system
    operators) that choose to participate in DIRS provide contact
    information for any and all individuals in each company who would be
    providing information on the status of communications equipment in
    the event of a disaster. Contact information includes contact name,
    company name, phone number, cell phone number, Blackberry/pager
    number, and e-mail address. This information will be secured by the
    Commission and protected from public release.