The Federal Emergency Management Agency asked the FCC for a limited waiver of the agency's wireless emergency alert rules, allowing a national test Oct. 4. The test would start at 2:18 p.m. EDT and “involve sending a WEA message to the entire United States and U.S. territories,” FEMA said: “The 87-character test message to be displayed on cellular handsets will read: THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.” FEMA said it would be the third national WEA test and “is necessary because it will determine if carrier WEA configuration, systems, and networks can and will process a National Level WEA delivering the message via all WEA enabled cell sites with minimal latency.” The FEMA letter is dated July 21 but was posted Tuesday in docket 15-91.

Some 83% of active smartphones in the U.S. support the latest standard for wireless emergency alerts, WEA 3.0, CTIA said. That’s up from about 60% a year ago, said a filing posted Monday in docket 15-91. “CTIA and its member companies appreciate the Commission’s dedication to enhancing the WEA system and are very pleased with the progress that the wireless industry and [Federal Emergency Management Agency] FEMA have made on delivering new WEA features to consumers,” CTIA said.

The Senate Commerce Committee easily advanced the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (S-1669) Thursday, but the measure still faces hurdles to enactment, especially in the House. Congress was on track to not act on two other communications policy matters seen as potentially ripe for action before lawmakers were expected to depart Thursday night for the month-plus August recess (see 2307200071): a push for Senate confirmation of Democratic FCC nominee Anna Gomez and House consideration of the Commerce Committee-approved Spectrum Auction Reauthorization Act (HR-3565).

Wireless carriers disagree with public safety over some FCC proposals for revised requirements for wireless emergency alerts, based on comments to the FCC. The Further NPRM, approved 4-0 in April, proposes to require participating providers to ensure mobile devices can translate alerts into the 13 most commonly spoken languages in the U.S. aside from English, to send thumbnail-sized images in WEA messages, and other changes (see 2304200040). Comments were due Friday in docket 15-94.

Sixteen state attorneys general signed a letter Wednesday cautioning Zero Emission Transportation Association and the Electric Drive Transportation Association about their member companies’ plans to leave AM radio receivers out of their electric vehicles. “Without access to their main consumers -- automobile owners -- AM stations and the lifesaving signals they provide, might cease to exist,” said the letter, signed by AGs from Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia, Utah and others. It's “vitally important” for officials to be able to deliver emergency information, and AM is “the backbone” of the emergency alert system, the letter said. “In light of the essential role AM radios play in the safety and well-being of Americans across the country, we urge your members to reconsider the decisions to eliminate AM radios in electric cars.”

The FCC's proposal to limit mobile supplemental coverage from space (SCS) operations to co-channel licenses held by one party in geographically independent areas (GIA) is getting pushback from some satellite and terrestrial interests, per NPRM reply comments in docket 23-65 Tuesday. There was wireless and satellite disagreement on whether a waiver system suffices or if the agency needs SCS rules. The SCS NPRM was adopted 4-0 in March (see 2303160009) and the wireless industry argued in initial comments SCS rules are premature (see 2305150007).

The satellite industry is playing defense at the 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference against potentially opening some bands allocated for satellite use to terrestrial mobile service, said Hogan Lovells space lawyer George John Thursday at an ABA space law symposium in Washington.

State Emergency Communications Committees will now be able to file state emergency alert system plans year-round, said updated guidance released by the FCC Public Safety Bureau in Tuesday’s Daily Digest. The changes will “streamline the Bureau’s review and approval process for updated plans,” the public notice said. The PN also provides guidance for SECCs on amending their EAS plans to seek approval for updated assignments on which sources stations monitor for alerts. “Previously, SECCs could file EAS Plans in [the Alert Reporting System] for review and approval only once annually,” the PN said. "Although the traditional monitoring waiver process will continue to be available, the Bureau encourages SECCs to use the newly automated EAS Plan amendment process incorporated into ARS whenever possible,” the PN said. SECCs should configure their monitoring by assigning as many EAS Participants as possible “to directly monitor (with no intermediate links) one or more sources that receive the National Emergency Message (EAN) signal directly from the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” the PN said.

The House Commerce Committee’s appetite for advancing the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (HR-3413/S-1669) proposal to mandate automakers include AM radio technology in future vehicles remains in doubt after multiple Communications Subcommittee members from both parties voiced skepticism during a Tuesday hearing, despite near-unanimous concern about potential public safety implications. House Communications ranking member Doris Matsui, D-Calif., told us she’s among those questioning the need for legislation in the short term to prevent AM radio’s removal from future vehicles. Chairman Bob Latta, R-Ohio, said in an interview he remains undecided on HR-3413/S-1669 (see 2305260034) after the hearing.

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation is “committed to ensuring drivers have access to free, public alerts and safety warnings through” FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) system, but access to emergency alerts “is not limited to one mode of communication” like AM radio, says Vice President-Safety Police Scott Schmidt in written testimony for a Tuesday House Communications Subcommittee hearing. Schmidt’s testimony doesn’t mention the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (HR-3413/S-1669) proposal to mandate automakers include AM radio technology in future vehicles, but witnesses representing broadcasters and public safety officials strongly endorse the measure in their written responses. House Communications Chairman Bob Latta, R-Ohio, is evaluating whether to back HR-3413/S-1669 (see 2305260034).