Broadcast and cable groups were among those seeking more time to get ready for a new technology that can geographically target emergency alerts across broadcasters, subscription-video providers and wireless services. Comments to the FCC from the NAB, the NCTA and Monroe Electronics, a maker of emergency alert system (EAS) gear, seek longer than the maximum of 180 days that the commission gives EAS participants to configure their networks to accept alerts based the Common Alerting Protocol after the technical standards are published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA has said the alerts may be adopted by the third quarter, the NCTA noted. FEMA has lagged in coming up with the standards. It had hoped to come up with guidelines for them in 2008 (CD May 30/07 p2).
An April 28 Amber Alert in New Jersey had a technical problem “which in turn cascaded into a procedural error,” causing unintended activation of some emergency systems, the state’s broadcaster group said Friday. Equipment associated with the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management emergency alert takeover system, which uses the state’s 800 MHz trunked radio system, has been adjusted, the New Jersey Broadcasters Association said in its weekly member update. “While there is still much more that needs to be done, the NJBA commends the quick response and hard work of these dedicated state officials and law enforcement in addressing this particular problem” with emergency alerts.
The FCC should focus on reducing media consolidation and “move quickly” on its media ownership review, representatives of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights wrote Chairman Julius Genachowski last week. The group, representing almost 200 organizations, hopes the FCC will analyze data on radio and TV station ownership collected via Form 323 quickly after the information is received and make it publicly available, wrote President Wade Henderson and Executive Vice President Nancy Zirkin. Also, they wrote, “we strongly urge you to ensure that the upcoming review of the emergency alert system includes a mechanism to offer alerts to people who do not speak English."
HOT SPRINGS, Va. -- The FCC has a huge agenda from the National Broadband Plan to work through, but the commission has every intention of completing the work assigned, top officials said at the FCBA conference over the weekend.
Broadcasters and the FCC can work together better “to inform and protect the public” during emergencies, said an NAB filing last week. It reported on a meeting between industry officials and James Barnett, the Public Safety Bureau chief. A commission proceeding on national emergency-alert-system tests also was discussed.
Comments on changing FCC emergency alert system rules in light of common alerting protocol’s introduction and the integrated public alert and warning system deployed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency are due May 17, with replies due June 14, said a Federal Register notice.
The FCC is moving fast on the public safety network and quick actions in areas like interoperability and the emergency communications system are expected, Public Safety Bureau officials said during an FCBA lunch Friday. The agency is also seeking to increase its involvement with cybersecurity and critical infrastructure survivability where it doesn’t have much of a track record, they said.
A Public Safety Bureau public notice seeks comment concerning changes in Part 11 rules that adopting the Common Alerting Protocol may require. The rules mandate state and local Emergency Alert System (EAS) testing. Filers should note any changes or additions “that could advance or facilitate introduction of a CAP-based Next Generation EAS architecture,” the bureau said. Comments must be filed by May 17, replies June 14.
The FCC fined Almega Cable $38,000 for emergency alert system and other violations in Texas. The company failed to install working EAS equipment, notify the Federal Aviation Administration immediately of a lighting outage, or show all red obstruction lighting at an antenna in Bloomington, where it has a cable system, and Yorktown, where it used to have one, said Enforcement Bureau orders released Friday.
Stations should get 90 days’ or four months’ notice of nationwide emergency alert system tests, which shouldn’t take place more than yearly, the NAB said last week in reply comments to the FCC. “The additional time will allow radio and television stations to better plan and notify their audiences of the coming EAS exercise, and coordinate the national test with their regularly scheduled weekly and monthly EAS tests.” The association agreed with a proposal that monthly tests not be done the month of the national test. Monthly EAS tests aren’t done at the same time in all markets. Not all commenters agree about all specifics in a rulemaking notice on the subject, the Named State Broadcasters Associations said, but “despite any disagreements, the parties to this proceeding all desire that the process will continue to move forward."