Emergency Communications

Emergency Lifelines Workshop & Tabletop Recap

October 2014 – The FCC announced it will host a forum next month promoting accessibility in wireless emergency communications. The event will allow industry and emergency communications specialists the opportunity to present innovations in services, emergency, assistive and accessible technologies that increase information and communications access in the event of an emergency.

Dr. James White, Director of Communications Studies at Georgia Tech’s Center for Advanced Communications Policy (CACP) and Wireless RERC researcher, authored the recently published National Council on Disability (NCD) report: Effective Communication for People with Disabilities Before, During, and After Emergencies Evaluated. Officially released at their May 27^th briefing, the report focuses on the accessibility of emergency communication for people with intellectual, sensory, psychiatric and developmental disabilities. Of note, Dr.

February 2014 — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is now seeking applicants to serve on the National Advisory Council (NAC).  The NAC, composed of 35 subject matter experts in the field of emergency management, provides direct council to the FEMA Administrator to ensure “effective and ongoing coordination of federal preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation” for natural and technological disasters. The three-year positions are currently available for individuals in the following disciplines:

May 17, 2013 —The FCC released a Report and Order [FCC 13-64] regarding the roll out of text-to-911, specifically requiring wireless carriers as well as providers of text messaging services to provide a “bounce-back” message to consumers who attempt to use text-to-911 but where the service is unavailable or the text is unable to be transmitted.