*Pages 1--1 from Microsoft Word - 25549.doc* NEWS Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th Street, S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D. C. Circ 1974). News Media Information 202 / 418- 0500 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov TTY: 1- 888- 835- 5322 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEWS MEDIA CONTACTS: March 6, 2003 Robin Pence (202) 418- 0505 Homeland Security: Service Continuity and Disaster Recovery Top Agenda for Upcoming National Reliability and Interoperability Council Meeting March 14, 2003 Washington, DC. – Senior representatives from the telecommunications, cable, Internet and satellite industries will consider next week a series of comprehensive recommendations to facilitate service continuity and disaster recovery in the event of an attack of the nation’s communications infrastructure. The proposals will be presented at the Network Reliability and Interoperability Council (NRIC) VI quarterly meeting Friday, March 14, 2003. FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell and Richard C. Notebaert, NRIC Chairman and Chairman and CEO of Qwest Communications, will chair the meeting which will run from 10: 00 a. m. – 1: 00 p. m. at the Federal Communications Commission, in the Commission Meeting Room at 445 12 th Street, S. W., Washington, D. C. Chairman Powell chartered NRIC VI January 7, 2002 to focus on homeland security by ensuring the security and sustainability of public telecommunications networks in the event of a terrorist attack or national disaster. Membership in NRIC was significantly expanded through NRIC VI to include corporate representatives from the cable, wireless, satellite and ISP industries. It also established four new working groups to address homeland security: Physical Security, Cyber Security, Disaster Recovery and Public Safety. Members of the general public may attend the meeting. Real audio and streaming video access to the meeting will be available at http:// www. fcc. gov. The public may submit written comments before the meeting to Jeffery Goldthorp, the Commissions’ Designated Federal Officer for the Network Reliability and Interoperability Council (jgoldtho@ fcc. gov). -FCC- 1