25 August 2006
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[Federal Register: August 25, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 165)]
[Notices]
[Page 50390]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25au06-38]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Notice: Continuity of Business (via satellite) Summit
AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA), U.S. Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of Public Meeting.
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SUMMARY: NTIA will co-sponsor a conference entitled ``Continuity of
Business (via satellite) Summit: Acquiring Robust Communications
Capability to Prepare for Natural and Man-Made Disasters'' with the
Satellite Industry Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The
agenda will focus on the importance of satellite communications for the
continuity of business which may be interrupted during a natural
disaster, cyber attack, or other terrorist action.
DATES: The Continuity of Business (via satellite) Summit will take
place Thursday, September 21, 2006, 9:00 AM to noon.
ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the U.S. Chamber of
Commerce, 1615 H Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20062-2000.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Persons interested in attending the
Continuity of Business (via Satellite) Summit should contact Helen
Shaw, Critical Infrastructure Protection Program, Office of the
Assistant Secretary, National Telecommunications and Information
Administration, 1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room 7846, Washington,
DC, 20230; by facsimile transmission to (202) 482-1189; or by
electronic mail to hshaw@ntia.doc.gov. Information for the Summit is
also available through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce at
http://www.uschamber.com.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background. Recent world events, such as the
massive hurricanes in the Southern United States, and terrorist
actions, such as the bombing of the World Trade Centers, and the
potentiality of such events occurring in the future, such as cyber
attacks, have demonstrated the need for additional communications
channels to prevent communications outages among our nation's
businesses and industry. Each of these events, both natural and man-
caused, has the potential to interrupt communications costing
businesses millions of dollars in lost sales and productivity. For
these reasons, a national level discussion addressing additional
communications channels is both timely and essential to our nation's
economic security and viability.
The Department of Commerce has the lead responsibility for the
``economic security'' component of critical infrastructure protection,
and coordinates these efforts with the Department of Homeland Security
(DHS), Department of the Treasury and the Federal Trade Commission
(FTC). Acting on behalf of the Department of Commerce, NTIA addresses
continuity-of-business/disaster recovery efforts of companies that
complement critical infrastructure companies, which are vital to the
economy and orderly functioning of society. The focus on continuity of
business and disaster recovery communications is based on the premise
that wireline, wireless and Internet (including Virtual Private Network
(VPN)) capabilities might fail or become saturated as a result of a
physical or cyber attack. In such emergency situations, it will be
necessary to make use of additional communications capability (e.g.,
satellite links or HF point-to-point and broadcast transmissions).
The Summit will provide a forum primarily for industry
representatives to discuss issues related to continuity of business and
disaster recovery - such as estimates of current/projected ``take-up''
costs and the ``business case'' for investing in additional
communications, incentives, identification of leaders (e.g., companies
and associations), and approaches to education and awareness. The
government's role will support education and awareness rather than fund
this private sector-led effort.
Public Participation: The meeting will be open to the public and
press on a first-come, first- served basis. Space is limited. The
public meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities.
Individuals requiring special services, such as sign language
interpretation or other ancillary aids are asked to indicate this to
Ms. Shaw at least five (5) days prior to the meeting. The Summit will
be webcast. Webcast information and the meeting agenda and a list of
speakers will be posted on NTIA's website, http://www.ntia.doc.gov, the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce's website, http://www.uschamber.com, and the Satellite
Industry Association's website, http://www.sia.org, one week prior to the
meeting.
Dated: August 22, 2006.
Kathy D. Smith,
Chief Counsel, National Telecommunications and Information
Administration.
[FR Doc. E6-14121 Filed 8-24-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-S