Telecommunications Sub-Groups
From SR
Roles
Telecommunications Sub-Groups (TSGs) have been established in each Local Resilience Forum (LRF) area as an integral part of the Resilient Telecommunications Strategy. The role of the LRF Telecommunications Sub-Groups is to ensure local responders and their partners are able to communicate effectively even when faced with the most challenging circumstances and to consider all aspects of communications, including technical means, and how resilience might be enhanced within its area.
History
The Resilient Telecommunications Strategy has been developed by the Civil Contingencies Secretariat in collaboration with stakeholders. The views of stakeholders have been sought throughout the process via a Resilient Telecommunications Stakeholder Panel, which includes representatives of all Category 1 responders, and wider consultation through a Resilient Telecommunications Workshop. Representatives from all LRFs were invited to the workshop and it was these representatives who first proposed the idea of telecommunications sub-groups being established. The role and the structure of the sub-groups have subsequently been developed with the help of the Stakeholder Panel.
Outputs
Key early tasks for the groups will include the development and ownership of a Resilient Telecommunications Plan that is to incorporate the management of the new Mobile Telecommunications Privileged Access Scheme (MTPAS) as this is rolled out. The plan is to be a living document updated as experience is gained through testing and exercising the arrangements and as circumstances change. Draft plans are to be developed no later than September 2008 with a view to sharing developing practices at a workshop in the Autumn.
Further details of the sub-groups and advice on their establishment, including a model terms of reference, is provided on the UK Resilience Website.
