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Communications is vitally important to our national well-being and ability to effectively communicate in times of disasters or crises. The reliance of hospitals and other health care facilities on the nation’s communications infrastructure during emergencies further underscores the vital importance of having a reliable and robust infrastructure in place.
Communications, even for emergency preparedness, is a two-way street. Hospitals must be able to rely on the communications infrastructure of their service providers. It is also important that hospitals and health care providers have communications systems and emergency communications plans in place to provide maximum assurance that communications will be operable in times of need.
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission's Public Safety and Homeland Security (PSHS) Bureau is committed to working closely with the nation’s health care providers to further strengthen emergency communications response capabilities and preparedness. The Bureau has the expertise and resources to assist health care providers concerning the types of technology and communications systems available, the benefits of different types of systems, the value of staff training in the use of communications equipment, and the importance of refining emergency communications plans – including implementation of backup or alternate communications strategies in case of a prolonged power outage.
In addition, the Bureau will assist health care providers to enroll critical communications links in the Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP) program, which provides for priority provisioning and restoration of national security and emergency preparedness services.
For additional information on public safety and homeland security issues related to FCC initiatives and functions please review the PSHS Bureau’s web site at: http://www.fcc.gov/pshs.
Those interested in learning more details about a specific topic area or areas may also contact PSHS Bureau staff members Robert Kenny, Media and Public Outreach Specialist, at 202-418-2668 or Leon Jackler, Director of Public Safety Outreach and Coordination, at 202-418-0946.
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