[IRCA] National Response Plan

["Bob Foxworth" <rfoxwor1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

In searching the web I have recently become aware
of the National Response Plan. This was created
by the Department of Homeland Security earlier
this year, under authority of the Homeland Security
Act of 2002, Public Law 107-296, and HSPD-5. It
is a public document and available on the web as a
PDF and a summary of the Notice is in the Federal
Register. No secrets here.

It establishes a "unified and standardized approach
within the United States for protecting citizens and
managing homeland security incidents". The Plan
"provides the structure and mechanisms for the
coordination of Federal Support to state, local and
tribal incident managers..."

The purpose of the NRP is to "establish a comprehensive,
national, all-hazards approach to domestic incident
management across a spectrum of activities including
prevention, preparedness, response and recovery."

There are 32 agencies and departments involved,
including the FCC. I have written the contact person
at DHS about my sincere concerms that the availability
of wide-area coverage of AM radio be maintained,
to facilitate the potentiality of using distant AM skywave
radio to get information to the population in the event
of widespread, sustained local power loss, such
as happened in the 2003 NorthEast blackout. I
mentioned my belief that such an event is likely
to happen again, as I previously have commented.

I discussed the proposal to convert AM radio to digital,
alluded to the well-known technical problems, and
suggested that DHS consider filing a reply comment
urging that the matter be stayed until such time as the
impact on DHS interests be investigated, and that
the longer term issues of AM digital be examined in the
context of the NRP, and the interests of the national
infrastructure security.

I believe the usage of AM as it is presently configured
is well within the scope and purpose of disaster
mitigation as this plan addresses, and I have to
believe that DHS has standing to be a replyer,
if not an intervenor, in this matter. I am sure there
will be comments that the risk is residual against
the likelihood of the event, and that is valid to argue.

I received a reply from my PoC at DHS which thanked
me for my interest and promised to forward the
comments to an appropriate person for evaluation.
This is everything I would have hoped for at this stage.
I mentioned the Reply Comments stage of the 99-325
proceeding, and the two-week window that remains.

It is entirely possible that the Department may decide,
or perhaps already decided, that this is not a concern
for them. I just don't know. However I feel it is incumbent
for any citizen who appreciates these issues to bring
attention to them so that they may be properly evaluated.

I am not giving further details as it would be counter-
productive for DXers to send other communications
to these people. The ball is in their court now. Those
DXers who want to, will be able to locate these
documents in any event. Or feel free to write me offlist.
 
It would be interesting to hear comments from other
list members, onlist, as it relates to use of AM in disaster
recovery and information dispersal, and what role they
see being played by wide-coverage radio, which
apparently excludes IBOC.

----

Incidentally IBOC radio will be the topic of discussion
at the next chapter meeting of SBE here, in a week.
Should be interesting, and I expect to be there, quietly
observing.

- Bob


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