Washington,D.C.  

Local leaders and first responders are on the front lines of homeland security preparedness and response.  Before the President or even a governor declares a disaster, the local county executive who is the first one on the ground to recognize and declare a situation to be a disaster.  To meet their ever growing emergency management communication needs, the County Executives of America has established an interoperable communications network, The County Executives’ Television Network (CETN), which will provide county executives and first responders with a two way satellite communications systems to make available state of the art training courses in order to prepare and respond to the wide range of emergencies they tackle every day.
The County Executives of America (CEA) has designed a communications system based on a system already in use by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Directorate (“CBP”). The proposed system is based off of an existing encrypted satellite delivery system.  This system will provide local officials and first responders with secured two way satellite communications 24/7. Satellite infrastructure allows for communications throughout emergency situations, including loss of electrical power (where auxiliary power is available). 
CEA has already established an online version of CETN.  Satellite infrastructure will provide a reliable broadband communication connection to emergency management officials, delivering this tool to those in rural or underserved areas where broadband is otherwise inaccessible or unaffordable. The satellite infrastructure will also supplement existing broadband connections, especially in times of emergency.
The County Executives’ Television Network will provide local leaders and first responders the most current training in their respective fields.  The latest in law enforcement, fire, health and emergency management procedures and tactics will be provided to first responders via a web-based learning management system.  Local leaders will be able to access training on how to best respond to emergencies as varied as natural disasters, pandemics, or terrorist activities.  Additionally, the training platform can also be used by local leaders to provide communities with job retraining to support the local economy.
In September 2009, CEA will launch an online version of CETN to provide communications and training capabilities to local officials.  However, to ensure that local county officials and first responders have access to the complete robust communications’ capabilities of the secure satellite system, federal assistance is needed.  Federal support can ensure that state, local and federal leaders can stay connected in times of emergency, including when terrestrial-based communications fail.
CEA recommends a federal pilot program that would provide CETN satellite communications capabilities to several local communities to demonstrate the system’s capabilities and feasibility.  The pilot will create a means for evaluation, demonstrate the best way for DHS and localities to communicate and identify areas where improvement is needed for a national network. Contact Michael Griffin, Executive Director of CEA at 202-628-3585 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

The CETN website is http://cetn.criticalinfonet.com

Cherokee Forest grows by 1,278 acres (Associated Press) 

The Cherokee National Forest has acquired 1,278 additional acres in Unicoi County from the Conservation Fund for $5 million. The fund, a nonprofit organization, is holding the land until money is available to make more transfers possible. The U.S. Forest Service made the purchase. According to The Greeneville Sun, The Conservation Fund has a lease agreement with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to manage the property. The national forest encompasses 640,000 acres stretching from Bristol to Chattanooga.

http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=31467717.story

The UT County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS) is providing a new link on its website (www.ctas.tennessee.edu) to highlight for Tennessee county officials information about the implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), commonly referred to as the federal stimulus package. Complementing what is available at the federal and state levels through www.recovery.gov and www.tnrecovery.gov, this CTAS page will provide frequent updates on county grant and financial information as they become available.

The information is being provided in a coordinated effort involving CTAS and the Tennessee County Services Association, Tennessee County Commissioners Association, Tennessee County Highway Officials Association and the Association of County Mayors of Tennessee.

        The Tennessee county ARRA link can be found on the right-hand side of the CTAS homepage, at www.ctas.tennessee.edu.

Wacker plans to set up new polysilicon production facility (Chemie.De)

Wacker Chemie AG has mid-term plans to construct a new hyperpure polycrystalline silicon facility in the US and has purchased land in the State of Tennessee for this purpose. The land in Bradley County covers approximately 550 acres (220 hectares), offering adequate space for a new integrated silicon-based manufacturing site. The purchase price totals almost $20 million. Wacker expects a mid-term investment in the Cleveland, Tennessee area of around $1 billion to set up the new plant, thereby creating about 500 new jobs. The size of the site, the availability of reliable power from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), over-the-fence supply of chlorine from the adjacent OLIN Corporation facility and excellent transportation infrastructure made this an attractive site location.

http://www.chemie.de/news/e/97593/