Public Notice: FCC And NTIA Appoint Members to Joint Advisory Committee on Communications Capabilities of Emergency Medical and Public Health Care Facilities

First Meeting Set for Monday, October 29, 2007

FCC Media Contact: Robert Kenny (202) 418-2668 robert.kenny@fcc.gov
NTIA Media Contact: Todd Sedmak (202) 482-7002  tsedmak@ntia.doc.gov
Released: October 18, 2007
DA-07-4325      

Washington, D.C. – This Public Notice serves as notice that, pursuant to Section 2201(c) of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, Public Law No. 110-53, 121 Stat. 266 (2007) (“9/11 Commission Act” or “Act”), Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin J. Martin and U.S. Commerce Department Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information John M. R. Kneuer have appointed persons to serve as members of a Joint Advisory Committee on Communications Capabilities of Emergency Medical and Public Health Care Facilities (“Joint Committee”). 

As required by the Act, the Joint Committee will assess the communications capabilities of emergency medical and public health care facilities.  The Joint Committee’s findings must be submitted to Congress within six months of the date of enactment of the statute (i.e., February 4, 2008).^{[ 1 ]}

The Joint Committee is scheduled to hold its first meeting on Monday, October 29, 2007, starting at 10:00 a.m. in the Commission Meeting Room (TW-C305), Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554.  At its first meeting, the Joint Committee will discuss its committee structure (e.g., working groups, etc.) and a process for completing its task by February 4, 2008.  The Joint Committee will also introduce and receive brief statements from committee members and may receive presentations from invited representatives of organizations that address health care communications issues. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  The meeting is open to members of the public.  The Commission will attempt to accommodate as many people as possible.  Admittance, however, will be limited to the seating available.  Real Audio access to the meeting will be available at www.fcc.gov/.

Written Comments:  Members of the public may submit written comments before the meeting to: Lisa M. Fowlkes, Deputy Bureau Chief, Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau, Federal Communications Commission by email (lisa.fowlkes@fcc.gov), by facsimile ((202) 418-2817) or by mail (445 12th Street, SW, Room 7-C753, Washington, DC 20554) AND to Eric Werner, Senior Advisor, Office of the Assistant Secretary, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, by email (jointadvisorycommittee@ntia.doc.gov), by facsimile ((202) 506-0536) or by mail (1401 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room 4898, Washington, DC 20230).

People with Disabilities:  Open captioning will be provided for this event.  Other reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request.  Requests for such accommodations should be submitted via email to fcc504@fcc.gov or by calling the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (tty).  Such requests should include a detailed description of the accommodation needed.  In addition, please include a way we can contact you if we need more information.  Please allow at least five days advance notice; last minute requests will be accepted, but may be impossible to fulfill.

BACKGROUND:  The 9/11 Commission Act requires the Joint Committee to assess: (1) specific communications capabilities and needs of emergency medical and public health care facilities, including the improvement of basic voice, data, and broadband capabilities; (2) options to accommodate growth of basic and emerging communications services used by emergency medical and public health care facilities; and (3) options to improve integration of communications systems used by emergency medical and public health care facilities with existing or future emergency communications networks.

For further information about the Committee, please visit the Committee’s website at www.fcc.gov/pshs/  In addition, publicly available documents are available for copying and inspection in the Commission’s Public Reference Center, 445 12th Street, SW, Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554 (please see attached list of appointed Joint Advisory Committee members below).

FCC Contact:  Lisa M. Fowlkes ((202) 418-7452) or email:  lisa.fowlkes@fcc.gov.
NTIA Contact:  Eric Werner ((202) 482-0014) or email:  ewerner@ntia.doc.gov

MEMBERS OF THE JOINT ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITIES OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH CARE FACILITIES

Jim Bugel
Assistant Vice President, Federal Regulatory
AT&T Services, Inc.
(Chair)

Michael J. Ackerman, Ph.D.
Assistant Director, High Performance Computing & Communications
National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health

John F. Adams, Jr.
NCS Spectrum Manager/Senior Principal Systems Engineer
Raytheon Company

Curtis M. Bashford
Vice President, General Devices

Donna Bethea-Murphy
Vice President, Regulatory Engineering
Iridium Satellite, LLC

James A. Corry
Vice President, Government Solutions
Mobile Satellite Ventures, LP

Drew E. Dawson
Director, Office of Emergency Medical Services
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation

Steve J. Delahousey
National Vice President of Emergency Preparedness
Emergency Medical Services Corporation

Col. Terry J. Ebberts
Director, Office of Homeland Security & Public Safety
City of New Orleans, LA

Eric K. Griffin
Director, Lee County, NC Office of Emergency Management

Lisa Kaplowitz, MD, MSHA
Deputy Commissioner for Preparedness and Response
Virginia Department of Health

Richard J. Liekweg
Chief Executive Officer
University of California, San Diego, Medical Center

Jonathan D. Linkous
Executive Director, American Telemedicine Association

Kevin McGinnis
Program Advisor/Communications Technology Liaison
National Association of State EMS Officials

John F. Nagel
American Association of Paging Carriers

Thomas S. Nesbitt, MD
Director, Center for Health and Technology
University of California, Davis, Health System

Virginia Pressler, MD
Executive Vice President, Strategic Business Development
Hawaii Public Health

Murad Raheem
Branch Chief, Electronics and Communications
Office of Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Shawn R. Rogers
Director, Emergency Medical Services Director
Oklahoma State Department of Health

Mike Roskind
Acting Director, Office of Emergency Communications
Office of Cybersecurity & Communications
National Protection and Programs Directorate
U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Karen Sexton
Vice President & Chief Executive Officer for Hospitals and Clinics
University of Texas Medical Branch

Jim Traficant
Vice President of Healthcare Solutions
Harris Corporation

Carl C. VanCott
Communications Specialist
North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services

John S. Wilgis
Director, Emergency Management Services
Florida Hospital Association

Christopher K. Wuerker, MD
Medical Director, MedSTAR Transport
Washington Hospital Center