FCC Appoints New Members to Public Safety Interoperability Advisory Council

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski has appointed persons to serve on the Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council.  Genachowski also designated William Smith, representing AT&T, and Chris Fischer, representing the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials, International as Co-Chairs of the group.

The members represent a diverse and balanced mix of viewpoints from public safety organizations, Federal, state and local government agencies, the communications industry, and public interest organizations, said the FCC.

The Council, a Federal Advisory Committee, will provide recommendations to the Commission regarding best practices and actions that the Commission can take to ensure optimal security, reliability, and interoperability of communications systems, including telecommunications, media and public safety communications systems.  On March 19, 2009, the FCC renewed the charter for the CSRIC for two years.

Under its charter, CSRIC’s duties include recommending “best practices” to promote reliable 911 and enhanced 911 (E911) service, interoperability of public safety communications systems, analyzing and recommending technical options to enable accurate and reliable dynamic E911 location identification for interconnected intenet telephone service. It also includes recommending ways to improve Emergency Alert System.