Sec. 22.6. (a) Communications service providers in Indiana, in cooperation with the agency, the Indiana Cable Telecommunications Association, and the Indiana Telecommunications Association or a successor association, shall develop comprehensive and coordinated plans for:

(1) preparation for; and

(2) responding appropriately to;

an emergency or disaster.

     (b) Any statewide organization or a member of a statewide organization that represents communications service providers may establish a program for training and certifying communications service engineers and technical personnel as first response communications service providers. A program established under this subsection must:

(1) be consistent with federal law and guidelines;

(2) provide training and education concerning:

(A) restoration of;

(B) repairing;

(C) resupplying; or

(D) any combination of the activities under clauses (A) through (C) related to;

any facilities or equipment of a communications service provider in an area affected by an emergency or disaster; and

(3) provide training and education concerning the personal safety of a first response communications service provider in an area affected by an emergency or disaster.

     (c) To the extent practicable and consistent with not endangering public safety or inhibiting recovery efforts, the state and political subdivisions shall allow a first response communications service provider access to an area affected by an emergency or disaster for the purpose of restoration of, repairing, or resupplying (or any combination of these activities) a facility or equipment critical to the ability of a communications service provider to acquire, produce, or transmit essential emergency or disaster related public information programming, including repairing and maintaining transmitters and transporting fuel for generators.

As added by P.L.172-2014, SEC.6.