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Resilient Communications

LRF Telecommunications Sub-Groups

Telecommunications Sub-Groups (TSGs) have been established in each Local Resilience Forum (LRF) area. The Chair or point of contact for TSGs can be found in the TSG Contact Directory [September 2010 - PDF, 3 pages, 23KB].

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. Advice on estblishment of the groups was provided in a bulletin to LRF Chairs (September 2007) [PDF, 4 pages, 218KB].

The key early task for the groups is the development and ownership of a Resilient Telecommunications Plan.  This is to be a living document updated as experience is gained through testing and exercising the arrangements, and as circumstances change.

CCS has published Guidance for Local Resilience Forums’Telecommunications Sub-Groups, which sets down the full Terms of Reference for the Groups and includes an informative Q&A on information sharing with the telecommunications companies.

As the Groups mature, we envisage them evolving to become a centre of knowledge on the resilience of communications in their area and able to offer advice when preparing for, responding to and recovering from emergencies.  

TSG Birmingham Workshop – September 2009

The latest workshop for chairs and members of the TSGs was held in Birmingham on 8 September. As well as representatives from the TSGs and LRFs, the event was also attended by telecoms leads from the Government Offices and industry partners.

The day saw a range of presentations given covering the main projects from the Resilient Telecommunications Programme, the Interoperability Programme, and the development of the Surrey telecoms plan. These presentations can be downloaded from the links below. A note on the many points and suggestions made during the afternoon’s break-out session is also given below.

• Notes from the afternoon break-out sessions [PDF, 4 pages 90KB]
• MTPAS update – Tom Swarbrigg, CCS [PowerPoint, 9 slides, 381KB]
• HITS update – Lucy Yu & Charles Raynor, CCS [PDF 29 pages, 2.3MB]
• Multi-Agency Working Together – Paul Gibson, NPIA [PowerPoint, 21 slides, 4MB]
• Surrey Telecommunications Plan – Supt. Sue Lampard, Surrey TSG [PowerPoint, 11 slides, 265KB]

Stakeholder Panel

A Stakeholder Panel has been set up to help advise CCS on the development of the Resilient Telecommunications Strategy to ensure that it meets the needs of stakeholders. The panel brings together representatives of those organisations who are core to the UK's emergency response.

• Terms of Reference  [PDF, 1 page, 56KB] - This document sets out the aim and objectives of the panel, along with a list of the organisations that are represented.