and is scheduled to make recommendations to the FCC on
improving
disaster preparedness, network reliability, and communications among
first
responders by June 15, 2006. At their first meeting, the panel will
discuss
a tentative timeline and process for completion of its charge by the
June
15 date, as well as the committee’s structure. It will also introduce
and
receive brief statements from panel members on the impact of Hurricane
Katrina on their company’s or industry sector’s communications
infrastructure.

Panel members include representatives from public safety organizations
in
Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida. Industry representatives
are
coming from BellSouth CenturyTel, Sprint, Cingular, Cox
Communications,
PanAmSat, and Motorola. There appear to be no representatives from
Internet
Service Providers or VoIP providers.

I’m guessing that the reason for leaving out the VOIP and ISP crowd is because the two services aren’t on the list of those used by first responders, or at least that’s the way it’s perceived.
I’ll be interested in seeing the report when it’s released.