Companies Tell of Cooperation Among Competitors in Midst of Katrina

The most emotional testimony came from Gulf Coast area broadcasters, who told of workers wading into alligator-laden swamps to fix generators and of Clear Channel helping to keep Entercom’s all news WWL(AM) on the air. Diane Newman, operations dir. of Entercom’s WWL(AM) in New Orleans, said her station’s joint operation with Clear Channel to broadcast from Baton Rouge was an “unprecedented cooperation between broadcasters.”

Speakers touched on familiar issues. Hearst-Argyle TV News Vp Fred Young said the Gulf Coast situation made him wonder how there could be push for early return of analog spectrum. During a crisis like this, it’s important that all viewers get information, he said. Willis Carter, first vp of the Assn. of Public-Safety Communications Officials, said more action is needed by govt. agencies and Congress to protect public safety. Carter told of harrowing experiences as he visited dispatch centers in affected areas. Employees often were living in the centers, working with damaged towers, low fuel and an inability to communicate. He said he saw “devastation and despair” in all of them.

FCC Comr. Abernathy, who Wed. before toured storm-damaged areas, praised communications companies who “put aside your normal rivalries” to get systems working: “SBC provided technicians and equipment to help BellSouth. BellSouth then helped wireless companies. Wireless companies then worked with each through things like spectrum sharing.”

Speakers praised the FCC’s speedy approval of waivers that legitimized some cooperative efforts, also describing how FCC personnel filled unusual roles, such as finding govt. security forces to protect employees working in communications facilities. Clear Channel Regional Vp Dick Lewis said his firm contacted the FCC when its “fuel site was held up at gun point” and it became dangerous for employees to transport fuel: “Through the FCC, we received a FEMA escort for our fuel deliveries.” He said the FCC “also was instrumental in helping us obtain security passes and clearances [and] securing federal protection for transmitter sites and studio locations.” Lewis said his company set up a cooperative effort in Baton Rouge with Entercom and 2 independent stations. Called “United Broadcasters of New Orleans,” the operation “creates one very rich information stream that is simulcast on all frequencies owned by the stations that are on the air at any given time,” he said.

FCC Chmn. Martin used the forum of the meeting to reveal plans to help communications firms and customers and better prepare for the future: (1) Creation of an FCC Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau (see story elsewhere this issue). (2) Directing $211 million in relief to affected areas through universal service support, working through existing programs such as the high-cost program and E-Rate. (3) Creation of a panel of public safety and communications industry experts to study Katrina’s impact on the communications infrastructure and suggest ways for the FCC to improve disaster preparedness, network reliability and first responders communications.

Abernathy said in creating the panel the FCC aims to improve its efforts to help companies help each other, perhaps by setting some standard practices so things don’t have to be done “on the fly.” The industry showed great “resiliency” in setting up partnerships during the crisis and “we don’t want government to stand in the way,” she said.

Ken Moran, dir.-FCC Homeland Security Office, said the FCC Aug. 30 set up an internal task force to coordinate hurricane response efforts and hundreds of FCC employees were involved in the relief efforts. He said the FCC granted more than 50 special temporary authority (STA) requests, such as to permit first responders coming from elsewhere to use their radios in rescue work. More than 100 requests for temporary frequency assignments were handled, plus many temporary rule waivers, he said. Moran said the agency has been giving FEMA and the National Communications System daily updates on resources needed by communications providers.

Given its Southeast location, BellSouth Network Services knows storms, and took such precautions as putting switches on 2nd floors in New Orleans, pres. Rod Odom said. But Katrina was “catastrophic” because, along with building damage, she brought flooding and security problems, he said. “Because of the continued flooding, and the unprecedented security issues, generator power was lost at several central offices due to our inability to refuel,” he said: “Flooding also caused extensive damage to buildings and other structures in the flooded areas.” Sixteen central offices hadn’t been restored to service, he said. Odom told of difficulty protecting a central office on Poydras St. that kept operating. Due to gunfire nearby, BellSouth was told to evacuate the building and employees were escorted out under armed guard. Concerned about the empty building’s security, the company arranged for FBI agents to occupy it, joined at one point by La. State Police. “At that time, we began armed and escorted caravans to the building to bring fuel for the generator, water for the chillers,” he said. “In spite of these harrowing facts, this key switch, which serves as a regional hub for multiple carriers, remained in operation.”

The meeting occurred in the room BellSouth opened to other wireline and wireless carriers to coordinate service restoration. The walls were lined with hand-written boards tracking the effort. “Sept. 4 -- Radio team deployment, surveyed 10 locations police escort,” said one. “Sept. 5 - Boat travel unstable. Need alternative access,” said another. “Sept. 13 - Replacing fiber that was crushed by I-10 bridge and lake with creative solution using ITC DeltaCom fiber to restore full duplex for 21 rings.”

BellSouth’s Odom offered several “lessons learned” from the disaster: (1) “Both network providers and customers have become more dependent on commercial power,” so communications failures often are really power failures. (2) Industry and govt. must work more closely to establish “well in advance, multiple alternate retreat points and paths for the routing of E-911 traffic.” (3) First responders need radio gear able to access a common frequency.

Martin said communications firms performed “Herculean” tasks to restore service: “As our witnesses described today, companies are going beyond restoring their own facilities. Broadcasters are sharing facilities and precious gasoline with their competitors. BellSouth has helped competitive wireline service providers and wireless companies resume service by making its emergency operations center available to them… Satellite providers are wiring over 100 shelters so evacuees can receive critical information.”