The FCC will review rules on closed captioning and access to emer...

FCC will need to educate “technical staff” to keep them up-to-date on technology, because of the transition, it said. “Integration of technology platforms makes the transition to digital television and radio technologically challenging and requires coordination among various industries.” Bilateral agreements and treaties will need to be adjusted and new deals will need to be struck with Canada and Mexico to “accommodate the commission’s goals,” the draft said. It said the agency may need more lawyers and consumer advocacy and mediation specialists to handle complaints against broadcasters “in a timely manner,” noting that the number of such complaints has risen. In the public safety arena, the plan commits the FCC to promoting more effective communications for “public safety, health, defense, and other emergency personnel, as well as all consumers in need.” The plan calls for promotion of programs that allow government officials and emergency personnel to receive priority access to communications networks in times of emergency, such as the Telecommunications Service Priority and Wireless Priority Service programs. “Protection of the Nation’s critical communications infrastructure requires that the Commission adopt policies to ensure rapid restoration of communications after disruptions due to any cause,” the plan said. “The Commission shall work collaboratively with industry, other governmental agencies, and foreign counterparts to coordinate and engage in outreach to develop standards for Emergency Telecommunications Services (ETS); to increase awareness of the TSP and WPS programs; to stimulate participation in the TSP and WPS programs by 911 Centers, first responders, and federal, state, tribal, and local governmental agencies; to propose ways of making TSP and WPS participation more affordable; to identify obstacles to TSP and WPS participation; and to recommend changes to overcome such obstacles.” The plan notes that 90 percent of the nation’s communications infrastructure is in private hands and cooperation with industry is critical. In wireless, the strategic plan commits the FCC to “market- oriented spectrum allocation and assignment policies” and “policies that promote efficient and effective use of spectrum.” The FCC also plans to focus on new technologies “such as software defined radio, cognitive radio, dynamic frequency selection, and new protocols.”