DA 08-2090

September 11, 2008

**DIRS REPORTING DATA TO BE SHARED WITH FEDERAL ESF 2 AGENCIES**

Washington, DC -- On September 11, 2007, the Public Safety and Homeland
Security Bureau (PSHSB) of the Federal Communications Commission
(Commission) launched the Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS),
a voluntary, efficient, web-based system that communications companies,
including wireless, wireline, broadcast, and cable providers, can use to
report communications infrastructure status and situational awareness
information during times of crisis. In the event of a DIRS activation,
participating communications providers that serve areas affected by a
disaster voluntarily submit information 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. The Commission then compiles this data into reports
which it shares with the National Communications System (NCS) in support
of NCS's role as the primary agency for Emergency Support Function-2
(ESF-2) (Communications) of the National Response Framework. Because the
information that communications companies input into DIRS is sensitive,
for national security and/or commercial reasons, DIRS filings are
non-public, and are considered presumptively confidential upon
filing.[^1]

DIRS has had its initial activations during this 2008 hurricane season,
first in response to Tropical Storm Fay, and then in response to
Hurricane Gustav. In both cases, the information collected by DIRS was
of significant value. It has become evident that sharing the data with
other Federal government agencies involved in ESF-2 functions directly
would enhance the value of DIRS by streamlining the reporting process
and facilitating the accurate assessment of any damage to carrier
infrastructure and the rapid restoration of that infrastructure.
Accordingly, in future DIRS activations, the FCC will share DIRS data
with NCS as well as with other Federal agencies authorized to
participate in ESF-2 activities. The distribution of DIRS data to
Federal agencies involved in ESF-2 does not alter the presumptively
confidential nature of DIRS filings. DIRS data will remain non-public,
and any Federal agency to which DIRS data is distributed must, under
Federal law respect the confidential nature of DIRS filings.[^2]

The Commission's decision to enhance the value of DIRS by expanding its
reach to all Federal government agencies on the ESF-2 team is a further
example of the Commission's commitment to promoting the safety of life
and property through the use of wire and radio communication, as
required by the Communications Act of 1934, as amended,[^3] as well as
to ensuring the continued effectiveness ESF-2 and the National Response
Framework.

For further information, please contact Jeffery Goldthorp of the PSHSB's
Communications Systems Analysis Division at (202) 418-1096 or
Jeffery.Goldthorp@fcc.gov.

[^1]: As we have stated previously, DIRS filings voluntarily report
    weaknesses in and damage to the national communications
    infrastructure. The release of this sensitive information to the
    public could potentially facilitate terrorist targeting of critical
    infrastructure and key resources. Further, the DIRS filings contain
    internal confidential information that constitutes trade secrets and
    commercial or financial information. Public availability of these
    reports, which contain information the filers themselves do not
    routinely make public, could competitively harm the filers by
    revealing information about the types and deployment of their
    equipment and the traffic that flows across their networks. "The
    FCC's Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau Launches Disaster
    Information Reporting System (DIRS), *Public Notice*, 22 FCC Rcd
    16757 (PSHSB 2007).

[^2]: 44 U.S.C. § 3510.

[^3]: 47 U.S.C. §§ 151 et seq.