Disaster Communications Coordination and Preparedness Act

Better disaster communications for officials

This bill would require the Federal Communications Commission to review DIRS activation and deactivation notice procedures within 180 days. It would require a feasibility study within 18 months on expanding public safety liaison functions. The study would look at using the FCC’s 24-hour operations center as a clear entry point for State, local, Tribal, and territorial officials seeking communications-status information. The FCC would have to publish plain-language awareness materials within one year explaining DIRS, the Mandatory Disaster Response Initiative, what information is available, how to access public reports, and contact points. Materials would explain limits on DIRS information and protections for confidential data, and the FCC would consult providers and officials when practicable. None of these sections would create new reporting rules, impose operational mandates on providers, or change existing DIRS or MDRI regulations.