Survey on TSA's Transportation Security
Information Sharing Efforts

U.S. Government Accountability Office

 
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Your Organization

1.  Which of the following best describes your organization as a whole rather than any one division or department within the larger organization? Check all that apply.
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1a.  If you answered "Other" above, please describe your organization in the box below.
 
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Questions About Transportation Security-Related Products

  The following questions pertain to TSA transportation security-related products or briefings that you received during calendar year 2010. For this survey, the term "security-related information" refers to:
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  • Information regarding security measures related to classified or non-classified intelligence;

• Details on various security threats, including potential vulnerabilities and consequences of terrorist threats or attacks; cyber and technical threats; or suspicious activity pertaining to a specific entity or industry;

• Recommendations on security measures an entity should take to protect its people and resources from a terrorist attack, threat, or other security incident including U.S. and international security practices and lessons learned.
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  These may be products that your organization receives from TSA and other sources or that are made available for your organization to obtain through TSA mechanisms such as Web portals. You will have an opportunity to comment on the mechanisms TSA uses to distribute its security-related products later on in this survey.

We will ask you about each of the following types of TSA products separately:
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  • Transportation Security Related Information Reports

• Modal Threat Assessments

• Information provided during TSA Briefings

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Transportation Security Related Information Reports

2.  Transportation Security Related Information Reports provide information or analysis on specific issues, topics, or suspicious activities, or provide situational awareness of an ongoing or recent event. These reports are distributed by TSA through E-mail and other mechanisms. Examples include Transportation Intelligence Notes (TIN), formerly referred to as the Transportation Intelligence Gazette (TIG), and Transportation Suspicious Incidents Reports (TSIR). These reports are for informational purposes and DO NOT include TSA information that pertains to government rules and regulations.

Pictured below are examples of some of TSA's transportation security related information reports.
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  TIN and TSIR Screenshot
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2a.  During calendar year 2010, did your organization receive or obtain at least one Transportation Security Related Information Report? Please consult other staff if necessary to answer this question and the questions below for your organization. Select one option below.
(CLICK HERE to SKIP to Question 3)
(CLICK HERE to SKIP to Question 3)
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2b.  During calendar year 2010, did your organization receive or obtain a Transportation Security Related Information Report from any of the following sources? Select one option from each row below. Please spell out abbreviations.
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Source
Received/Obtained or Not?
Other Source Name
  Directly from TSA
(View responses)
 
(View responses)
 

(View responses)
  From an office within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) other than TSA
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  From a source other than TSA or DHS
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2c.  How satisfied or dissatisfied is your organization with the following aspects of the Transportation Security Related Information Reports it received or obtained during calendar year 2010? Select one option from each row below.
(View responses)
   
Very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
Somewhat dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied
Don't
know
  Timeliness
(i.e., the degree to which you received the information within the time it was needed)
(View responses)
  Relevance
(i.e., the degree to which the information was applicable to your organization)
(View responses)
  Completeness
(i.e., the degree to which the information contained all the necessary details)
(View responses)
  Actionability
(i.e., the degree to which the information enabled you to make adjustments to your security measures, if such a change was warranted)
(View responses)
  Accuracy
(i.e., the degree to which the information was correct)
(View responses)
 
2d.  If you have any comments you would like to add about TSA's Transportation Security Related Information Reports please type them in the box below.
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Modal Threat Assessments

3.  The TSA's Office of Intelligence provides assessments of threats for your organization's transportation mode (aviation, freight and passenger rail, and highways), including key actors and possible tactics and targets. These documents are not individual assessments of a specific organization or geographic region. Rather, these documents are developed for each transportation mode as well as specific industries such as Passenger Air Carriers and include incidents of interest and suspicious activities targeting transportation systems in the United States and overseas. These documents are produced at the classified and unclassified levels. Modal Threat Assessments are distributed through E-Mail and other mechanisms.

Examples of assessments include, among others:
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  • Annual Modal Threat Assessments (Aviation, Freight Rail, and Highways) which provide in-depth analysis of potential threats,

• Air Cargo Vulnerability Assessments which identify and evaluate the risks to the air cargo supply chain, and,

• Rail Corridor Reviews which determine the vulnerabilities and potential consequences that toxic inhalation hazards (TIH) cars pose in major areas.
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  Pictured below are examples of some of TSA's threat assessments.
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  Modal Assessment Screenshot

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3a.  During calendar year 2010, did your organization receive or obtain a copy of a Modal Threat Assessment? Please consult other staff if necessary to answer this question and the questions below for your organization. Select one option below.
(CLICK HERE to SKIP to Question 4)
(CLICK HERE to SKIP to Question 4)
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3b.  During calendar year 2010, did your organization receive a copy of a Modal Threat Assessment from any of the following sources? Select one option from each row below. Please spell out abbreviations.
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Source
Received or Not?
Other Source Name
  Directly from TSA
(View responses)
 
(View responses)
 

(View responses)
  From an office within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) other than TSA
(View responses)
 
(View responses)
 
(View responses)
  From a source other than TSA or DHS
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(View responses)
 
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3c.  How satisfied or dissatisfied is your organization with the following aspects of the Modal Threat Assessment it received or obtained during calendar year 2010? Select one option from each row below.
(View responses)
   
Very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
Somewhat dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied
Don't
know
  Timeliness
(i.e., the degree to which you received the information within the time it was needed)
(View responses)
  Relevance
(i.e., the degree to which the information was applicable to your organization)
(View responses)
  Completeness
(i.e., the degree to which the information contained all the necessary details)
(View responses)
  Actionability
(i.e., the degree to which the information enabled you to make adjustments to your security measures, if such a change was warranted)
(View responses)
  Accuracy
(i.e., the degree to which the information was correct)
(View responses)
 
3d.  If you have any comments you would like to add about TSA's Modal Threat Assessments please type them in the box below.
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Information Provided During Transportation Security Related Unclassified or Classified TSA Briefings

4.  TSA may share transportation security related information, including details on threats, vulnerabilities, and suspicious activities with transportation stakeholders during unclassified or classified briefings. These briefings may be provided to individual security professionals, public and private stakeholders, local and regional groups, or entire industries at forums such as trainings, workshops, and conferences. These briefings may also be conducted at TSA headquarters, at other secure locations, over a secure phone line, or via video or teleconference.
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4a.  During calendar year 2010, did a security official from your organization attend at least one transportation security related TSA briefing? Please consult other staff if necessary to answer this question and the questions below for your organization. Select one option below.
(CLICK HERE to SKIP to Question 5)
(CLICK HERE to SKIP to Question 5)
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4b.  During calendar year 2010, on average, how frequently did a security official from your organization attend unclassified or classified transportation security related TSA briefings? Select one option below.
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If OTHER frequency, please describe the frequency.
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4c.  How satisfied or dissatisfied is your organization with the following aspects of the unclassified and classified transportation security related TSA briefings attended during calendar year 2010? Select one option from each row below.
(View responses)
   
Very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
Somewhat dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied
Don't
know
  Timeliness
(i.e., the degree to which you received the information within the time it was needed)
(View responses)
  Relevance
(i.e., the degree to which the information was applicable to your organization)
(View responses)
  Completeness
(i.e., the degree to which the information contained all the necessary details)
(View responses)
  Actionability
(i.e., the degree to which the information enabled you to make adjustments to your security measures, if such a change was warranted)
(View responses)
  Accuracy
(i.e., the degree to which the information was correct)
(View responses)
 
4d.  If you have any comments you would like to add about unclassified or classified transportation security related TSA briefings please type them in the box below.
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GENERAL Questions About Transportation Security-Related Information Products

5.  Overall how satisfied or dissatisfied is your organization with the TSA transportation security-related products (reports, assessments, and briefings) previously mentioned in this questionnaire that your organization received or obtained during calendar year 2010? Select one option below.
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5a.  If you have any comments you would like to add about your organization's satisfaction or dissatisfaction with TSA'S transportation security-related products (reports, assessments, and briefings), please type them in the box below.
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6.  Overall, would your organization prefer that TSA share transportation security related information with your organization more frequently, less frequently, or as frequently as it did during calendar year 2010? Select one option below.
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6a.  If you have any comments you would like to add about the frequency in which TSA shares transportation security related information with your organization, please type them in the box below.
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7.  For each of the following purposes, how useful, if at all, was the transportation security-related information that your organization received or obtained from TSA during calendar year 2010? Select one option from each row below.
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Very useful
Somewhat useful
Not at all useful
Not applicable - Did not use for this purpose
Don't
know
  For enabling your organization to make adjustments to your security policies or procedures
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  For enhancing your organization's situational awareness
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  For informing your organization on how to prioritize your security measures
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  For another purpose
- Please describe below
↓
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  If you answered "For another purpose" above, please describe the purpose(s) in the box below.
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8.  During calendar year 2010, if your organization did not find the transportation security-related information that it received or obtained from TSA useful, please tell us why below.
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9.  How satisfied or dissatisfied is your organization with the transportation security-related information it may have received or obtained from any of the following sources during calendar year 2010? Please DO NOT include your satisfaction or dissatisfaction with government directives, requirements, rules, or regulations in your responses. Select one option from each row below.
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Did not receive information from this source
Very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
Somewhat dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied
Don't
know
  Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
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  Department of Defense (DOD)
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  U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) - i.e. FAA, FHWA, or FRA
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  State, Regional, Local and Major Urban Area Fusion Centers
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  State Law Enforcement Agency
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  Local Law Enforcement Agency
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Did not receive information from this source
Very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
Somewhat dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied
Don't
know
  Industry Associations
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  Security Consultants or Contracted Intelligence Analysts
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  Other #1 -
Please name below
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  Other #2 -
Please name below
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  Other #3 -
Please name below
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  Other Source #1: If you selected an answer for "Other #1" above, please name the other source in the box to the right. →
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  Other Source #2: If you selected an answer for "Other #2" above, please name the other source in the box to the right. →
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  Other Source #3: If you selected an answer for "Other #3" above, please name the other source in the box to the right. →
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10.  During calendar year 2010, was the amount of transportation security-related information that your organization received or obtained from all sources, including TSA, too much, too little, or about the right amount? Select one option below.
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11.  What, if anything, should TSA do to improve its transportation security-related information products (reports, assessments, and briefings)?
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12.  Please use the space below to provide any additional comments about TSA's transportation security-related information products.
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Access to Classified Information

  The following questions will ask about your organization's experiences receiving classified information from TSA. A formal security clearance, granted by a U.S. government agency, is required to handle classified documents, access classified data, or attend classified briefings. Classified information is information to which access is restricted by law or regulation to particular groups of persons and is labeled as "Confidential", "Secret", or "Top Secret." Information that does not include one of those labels is not classified information. Additionally, information that is labeled "Sensitive Security Information (SSI)" "for official use only", "business-sensitive", or "sensitive but unclassified" is not classified information.
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13.  At any time during calendar year 2010, did at least one member of your organization have a "Confidential", "Secret", or "Top Secret" security clearance granted by a U.S. government agency? Please consult other staff if necessary to answer this question and the questions below for your organization. Select one option below.
(CLICK HERE to SKIP to Question 15)
(CLICK HERE to SKIP to Question 15)
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14.  During calendar year 2010, did your organization receive or obtain any classified transportation security-related information products (reports, assessments, or briefings) from TSA? Select one option below.
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15.  During calendar year 2010, did TSA deny your organization access to a specific transportation security-related information product or briefing because the security personnel at your organization did not have the appropriate security clearance? Select one option below.
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16.  Please use the space below to provide any additional comments about security clearances and experiences receiving or obtaining classified transportation security-related information products or briefings from TSA.
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Questions about MECHANISMS used to Disseminate Transportation Security-Related Products

  The next series of questions focuses on the mechanisms TSA uses to distribute its security-related products.

We will ask you about each of these TSA mechanisms separately:
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  • The Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN)

• TSA E-Mail Alerts

• Aviation Web Board

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Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN)

17.  HSIN is a web-based platform operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to facilitate Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU) information sharing and collaboration between federal, state, local, tribal, and private sector entities.

Pictured below are examples of screenshots of some of the pages on HSIN.
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  HSIN Screenshots

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17a.  Prior to receiving this survey, had at least one person at your organization that is responsible for receiving or obtaining TSA's transportation security-related information, including you, heard of HSIN? Please consult other staff if necessary to answer this question and the questions below for your organization. Select one option below.
(CLICK HERE to SKIP to Question 18)
(CLICK HERE to SKIP to Question 18)
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17b.  During calendar year 2010, did at least one person at your organization who is responsible for receiving or obtaining TSA's transportation security-related information have the necessary user ID and password to log on to HSIN? Select one option below.
(CLICK HERE to SKIP to Question 18)
(CLICK HERE to SKIP to Question 18)
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17c.  How satisfied or dissatisfied is your organization with its ability to log on to HSIN during calendar year 2010? Select one option below.
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17d.  During calendar year 2010, did your organization log on to at least one part of HSIN? Select one option below.
(CLICK HERE to SKIP to Question 18)
(CLICK HERE to SKIP to Question 18)
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17e.  During calendar year 2010, which part(s) of HSIN, if any, did your organization log on to? Check all that apply.
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If OTHER HSIN portal, please describe.
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17f.  During calendar year 2010, on average, how frequently did at least one person in your organization log on to HSIN? Select one option below.
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(View responses)
 








If OTHER frequency, please describe the frequency.
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17g.  How satisfied or dissatisfied is your organization with its ability to locate transportation security related information on HSIN during calendar year 2010? Select one option below.
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17h.  How satisfied or dissatisfied is your organization with the following aspects of the security related information on HSIN during calendar year 2010? Select one option from each row below.
(View responses)
   
Very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
Somewhat dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied
Don't
know
  Relevance
(i.e., the degree to which the information was applicable to your organization)
(View responses)
  Completeness
(i.e., the degree to which the information contained all the necessary details)
(View responses)
  Actionability
(i.e., the degree to which the information enabled you to make adjustments to your security measures, if such a change was warranted)
(View responses)
  Accuracy
(i.e., the degree to which the information was correct)
(View responses)
 
17i.  If you have any comments you would like to add about HSIN please type them in the box below.
(View responses)
 

TSA E-mail Alerts

18.  As a part of its information-sharing efforts, TSA's Office of Intelligence and TSA's Transportation Sector Network Managers occasionally disseminate E-mails to transportation organizations that include "unclassified", and "Sensitive But Unclassified" security-related information. This TSA mechanism is intended to provide transportation stakeholders with information such as suspicious incident and situational awareness reports. Note: These email alerts contain security-related information and are NOT simply notifications that new information is available on a website.
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18a.  During calendar year 2010, did your organization receive at least one TSA E-mail Alert? Please consult other staff if necessary to answer this question and the questions below for your organization. Select one option below.
(CLICK HERE to SKIP to Question 19)
(CLICK HERE to SKIP to Question 19)
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18b.  During calendar year 2010, did your organization receive at least one TSA E-mail Alert from any of the following sources? Select one option from each row below. Please spell out abbreviations.
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Source
Received/Obtained or Not?
Other Source Name
  Directly from TSA
(View responses)
 
(View responses)
 

(View responses)
  From an office within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) other than TSA
(View responses)
 
(View responses)
   
(View responses)
  From a source other than TSA or DHS
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18c.  How satisfied or dissatisfied is your organization with the following aspects of the security related information in the TSA E-mail Alerts that your organization received in calendar year 2010? Select one option from each row below.
(View responses)
   
Very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
Somewhat dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied
Don't
know
  Timeliness
(i.e., the degree to which you received the information within the time it was needed)
(View responses)
  Relevance
(i.e., the degree to which the information was applicable to your organization)
(View responses)
  Completeness
(i.e., the degree to which the information contained all the necessary details)
(View responses)
  Actionability
(i.e., the degree to which the information enabled you to make adjustments to your security measures, if such a change was warranted)
(View responses)
  Accuracy
(i.e., the degree to which the information was correct)
(View responses)
 
18d.  If you have any comments you would like to add about TSA E-mail Alerts please type them in the box below.
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TSA's Aviation Web Board

19.  TSA's Aviation Web Board is a web site that is devoted to aviation security related information. Access to the Aviation Web Board can only be obtained through TSA.
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19a.  Prior to receiving this survey, had at least one person at your organization that is responsible for receiving or obtaining TSA's transportation security-related information, including you, heard of the Aviation Web Board? Please consult other staff if necessary to answer this question and the questions below for your organization. Select one option below.
(CLICK HERE to SKIP to Question 20)
(CLICK HERE to SKIP to Question 20)
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19b.  During calendar year 2010, did at least one person at your organization who is responsible for receiving or obtaining TSA's transportation security-related information have the necessary user ID and password to log on to TSA's Aviation Web Board? Select one option below.
(CLICK HERE to SKIP to Question 20)
(CLICK HERE to SKIP to Question 20)
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19c.  How satisfied or dissatisfied is your organization with its ability to log on to TSA's Aviation Web Board during calendar year 2010? Select one option below.
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19d.  During calendar year 2010, did your organization log on to at least one part of TSA's Aviation Web Board? Select one option below.
(CLICK HERE to SKIP to Question 20)
(CLICK HERE to SKIP to Question 20)
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19e.  During calendar year 2010, which Aviation Web Board subportal(s), if any, did your organization log on to? Check all that apply.
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(View responses)
 









If OTHER Aviation Web Board subportal, please describe.
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19f.  During calendar year 2010, on average, how frequently did at least one person in your organization log on to TSA's Aviation Web Board? Select one option below.
(View responses)
 
 

(View responses)
 








If OTHER frequency, please describe the frequency.
(View responses)
 
19g.  How satisfied or dissatisfied is your organization with its ability to locate transportation security related information on TSA's Aviation Web Board during calendar year 2010? Select one option below.
(View responses)
 
19h.  How satisfied or dissatisfied is your organization with the following aspects of the security related information on TSA's Aviation Web Board during calendar year 2010? Select one option from each row below.
(View responses)
   
Very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
Somewhat dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied
Don't
know
  Relevance
(i.e., the degree to which the information was applicable to your organization)
(View responses)
  Completeness
(i.e., the degree to which the information contained all the necessary details)
(View responses)
  Actionability
(i.e., the degree to which the information enabled you to make adjustments to your security measures, if such a change was warranted)
(View responses)
  Accuracy
(i.e., the degree to which the information was correct)
(View responses)
 
19i.  If you have any comments you would like to add about TSA's Aviation Web Board please type them in the box below.
(View responses)
 

GENERAL Questions About Transportation Security-Related Information MECHANISMS

20.  Overall, how satisfied or dissatisfied is your organization with all the MECHANISMS (HSIN, E-mail, and Web Board) previously mentioned in this questionnaire through which your organization received or obtained transportation security related information in calendar year 2010? Select one option below.
(View responses)
 
21.  What, if anything, should TSA do to improve the information sharing MECHANISMS (HSIN, E-mail, and Web Board) previously discussed in this survey that your organization used to receive or obtain transportation security-related information?
(View responses)
 
22.  Please use the space below to provide any additional comments about the MECHANISMS previously mentioned in this questionnaire.
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Final Questions

23.  What, if anything, should TSA do to improve two-way information sharing with your organization?
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24.  Please use the space below to provide any further comments your organization may have on transportation security related information sharing.
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25.  Who is the primary person responsible for completing this questionnaire? Enter letters or numbers in each box below.

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  Name:
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  Organization:
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  Phone:
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  Email:
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Submit Questionnaire

26.  Have you finished this questionnaire?
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Print Responses

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