FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski opened the first meeting of the commission’s new Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council (CSRIC) Monday, urging the group to take a hard look at communications best practices of networks “of all sizes and shapes.” Looking at ways to encourage better communications interoperability should also be an early goal of the group, Genachowski said.

The FCC and the Federal Emergency Management Agency Monday announced the adoption of design specifications for a gateway interface that will allow wireless carriers to send emergency alerts to their subscribers. The announcement starts a 28-month process for carriers that have elected to participate in the Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) to develop, test and deploy a system to deliver mobile alerts to the public by 2012. “The adoption of the CMAS standard brings us even closer to making the nation’s next-generation of emergency alerts and warnings a reality,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “Our goal is simple, to give one message over more devices to more people for maximum safety.” FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said he applauds the effort. CTIA President Steve Largent said the announcement shows that public-private partnerships work: “The wireless industry, along with other interested stakeholders and government agencies, has been working feverishly in the WARN Act Advisory Committee and afterwards in the standards development process. We believe this service ultimately will protect America and save lives.” Most large carriers, including AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, Leap Wireless and MetroPCS, have indicated they plan to send alerts to subscribers once the system is complete.

Health care providers and the telecom industry urged changes to universal service rules, as the FCC collected comment Friday on how broadband helps health care delivery. Some urged more spectrum allocation and renewed calls for a national public safety wireless network. All said broadband is key to providing better health care.

GENEVA -- There’s little agreement about what capabilities and tools are needed for mobile alert broadcasting systems, among countries and standards bodies at this week’s meeting of an ITU-T study group. The U.S. in March floated a preliminary text defining service requirements, among proposals being considered this week. The U.K. wants 3GPP to reserve number resources to support the civil alerting. A draft recommendation on administering those resources will require agreement between countries.

The FCC canceled a fine against an FM station after the assessment drew criticism from all 50 state broadcaster associations as possibly deterring other stations from taking part in emergency alert system plans (CD Oct 19 p9). The Enforcement Bureau said it issued the order on KWVE(FM) San Clemente, Calif., at its own initiative. “We are mindful of the unique circumstances at issue, including the voluntary and critical nature of the service provided by local primary stations in enabling statewide EAS activity.” The station was ordered to submit a compliance plan for emergency alerts.

A late push by broadcasters to insert FM chipsets into cellphones (CD Nov 13 p11) threatens to derail efforts to develop an emergency alert system for wireless, CTIA warned the FCC in comments on the National Broadband Plan notice on public safety issues. CTIA said the Commercial Mobile Service Alerts Advisory Committee already considered and rejected using FM chipsets for emergency alerts. Public safety groups, meanwhile, offered some additional advice on how first responders may use a national wireless network if one is eventually put in place.

The FCC and the Department of Homeland Security should look into the delivery of emergency alerts through FM radio tuners in cellphones, said a letter from 60 federal lawmakers from both parties. A 2006 law required the wireless industry to create an emergency alert system for cellphone users, the letter noted, but there aren’t many FM radio-enabled cellphone models in the U.S.

All the state broadcasters associations asked the FCC to cancel a proposed fine against a radio broadcaster that’s a local primary one station in the emergency alert system. If the $5,000 penalty stands against KWVE(FM) San Clemente, Calif., for accidentally sending out an EAS test (CD Sept 18 p15), it could deter other stations from taking part in the system, the state groups wrote all the FCC’s commissioners. “The loss of a single LP-1 station can cause a state’s EAS plan to be in non-compliance,” because other broadcasters and cable operators pass along messages from such entities, they wrote.

A federal emergency official told House members Wednesday that there’s a plan to improve the nation’s emergency alert system before fiscal 2013. The plan is “not without its challenges,” Damon Penn, assistant administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said at a House Public Safety Subcommittee hearing. “There must be no more delay in building a modern alert system,” said Subcommittee Chairman Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C.

The FCC fined four radio stations, including one owned by a college and one by a high school, a total of $17,000 for unauthorized operation or missing deadlines to renew licenses, in Media Bureau forfeiture orders. An Enforcement Bureau notice of apparent liability proposed fining KWVE(FM) San Clemente, Calif., $5,000 for an unauthorized emergency alert system test. Also fined were WHEI(FM) Tiffin, Ohio, WJHS(FM) Columbia City, Ind., and WECO AM/FM Wartburg, Tenn.