*Pages 1--1 from Microsoft Word - 45189.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 CONTACT: January 6, 2005 Meribeth McCarrick at (202) 418- 0654 Meribeth. McCarrick@ fcc. gov POWELL APPLAUDS COMPLETION OF THE NATIONAL RESPONSE PLAN FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell Statement on Department of Homeland Security Announcement that the National Response Plan has Been Completed The National Response Plan was developed in partnership with Federal departments and agencies, including the FCC, as well as state, local and tribal officials, the private sector, and emergency management national associations. The Plan helps protect Americans by providing a comprehensive approach on how all elements of incident management, from the top of the Federal government to the local EMS responder on the scene, coordinate in times of emergency. We are reminded every day of the importance of ensuring the restoration of communications services in times of emergency, and of making certain that essential public health and safety personnel have effective communications services available to them in emergency situations. The FCC is proud to support the implementation of the NRP and is dedicated to continuing its efforts to work with industry to evaluate and strengthen our Nation’s communications infrastructure. In the new year the Commission’s Network Reliability and Interoperability Council, as well as the Media Security and Reliability Council will continue their work to promote the rapid restoration of telecommunications and broadcast services in times of emergency. The FCC will maintain its ongoing relationships with Federal, state, local and tribal organizations to help make sure that essential emergency personnel have reliable communications services available to them both during and after an incident. I would like to thank the members of the communications industry who took part in the creation of the NRP, an emergency response approach announced today by the U. S. Department of Homeland Security to help make our Nation safer. - FCC - 1