The FCC will let the Federal Emergency Management Agency do the first nationwide test of wireless emergency alerts to wireless devices using the presidential level code on Sept. 20, with Oct. 3 a back-up date. FEMA requested a waiver (see 1807110033) so carriers would be able to participate in the test, to start at 2:18 p.m. EDT and be transmitted throughout the U.S. and its territories. The test “presents a unique circumstance that justifies a waiver of the Commission’s rules,” the Public Safety Bureau said. “We agree with FEMA, as noted in its letter, that it is important to ‘determine if carrier WEA configuration, systems, and networks can and will process a Presidential WEA delivering the message via all WEA enabled cell sites with minimal latency.’”
Senate Communications Subcommittee ranking member Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, and Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., filed the Reliable Emergency Alert Distribution Improvement (Readi) Act Wednesday in a bid to further address emergency alert system issues highlighted by a January false alarm in Hawaii (see 1801160054). The bill, which Schatz previewed during an April hearing, would require the FCC set best practices for delivering emergency alerts in a bid to streamline the alerting process. It would update the process for creating and approving state plans and examine the feasibility of expanding EAS to also distribute warnings to online streaming services (see 1804050055). “Even though it was a false alarm, the missile alert exposed real flaws in the way people receive emergency alerts,” Schatz said. “Our bill fixes a number of important problems with the system responsible for delivering emergency alerts.” Schatz led filing of the Authenticating Local Emergencies and Real Threats (Alert) Act (S-2385), which the Senate passed in June (see 1802060055, 1802070052 and 1806270001). S-2385 and House companion HR-4965 would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency National Advisory Council's Integrated Public Alert and Warning System subcommittee “make recommendations on the best practices that state and local governments should follow to maintain the integrity of IPAWS.” There has been no action on the House version.
The FCC Further NPRM on emergency alert system testing and false alerts approved by commissioners 3-1 Thursday (see 1807120059) and in Monday's Daily Digest has comments due 30 days after Federal Register publication, replies 30 days later. It has several pages that list questions in three sections, including on false alert reporting and delivery of wireless emergency alerts to handsets. That section examines how performance of WEAs to wireless devices is measured and reported: “We are concerned that inconsistent WEA delivery not only fails to deliver potentially life-saving information to the public, but also can erode consumer confidence in alerting systems. Accordingly, we seek comment regarding WEA delivery issues that stakeholders have encountered or are aware of, either in connection with a live alert or with a regional end-to-end test.”
Commissioner Mike O’Rielly split with fellow FCC Republicans Thursday to partially dissent from an order on emergency alert system testing and false alerts, over concerns about alert fatigue. Since lone FCC Democrat Jessica Rosenworcel voted in favor, it was approved 3 to 1. “If people come to expect that when those alert signals go off they may not be real, there is a very high likelihood that they will ignore potentially life-saving information.” O’Rielly said.
A heated dispute over FCC changes to informal complaint procedures overshadowed commissioners' 3-1 approval of an order to streamline formal complaint processes. Dissenter Jessica Rosenworcel said the order effectively removes the agency from working to resolve informal complaints against companies, forcing consumers unsatisfied by company responses to file a formal complaint costing $225. "This is bonkers. No one should be asked to pay $225 for this agency to do its job," she said at Thursday's commissioners' meeting.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency plans the first nationwide test of wireless emergency alerts to wireless devices using the presidential level code on Sept. 20, FEMA said in an FCC filing. FEMA sought waiver of FCC rules to let wireless carriers participate in the test, to start at 2:18 p.m. EDT and be transmitted throughout the U.S. and its territories. On the same day, FEMA said it plans the fourth in a series of nationwide tests of the emergency alert system, to start at 2:20 p.m. EDT. The WEA test “is necessary because it will determine if carrier WEA configuration, systems, and networks can and will process a Presidential WEA delivering the message via all WEA enabled cell sites with minimal latency,” FEMA said in docket 15-91. “FEMA proposes to conduct this test in September in conjunction with National Preparedness Month.” FEMA said tests of public alert and warning systems can “assess the operational readiness of the infrastructure for distribution of a national message and determine what technological improvements need to be made.” The WEA test will instruct wireless subscribers: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
The draft order and Further NPRM on emergency alert system tests and preventing false EAS alerts set for commissioners' Thursday meeting isn’t expected to run into opposition, FCC and industry officials told us Monday. The draft contains rules for authenticating EAS alerts, testing EAS equipment and informing the public, many involving processes and procedures already in use in some capacity by broadcasters and EAS equipment manufacturers, said Sage Alerting Systems President Harold Price. The draft item seeks comment on proposals similar to those advanced by Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel in reaction to the Hawaii false missile alert (see 1804050055), and is expected to be widely supported, an official told us.
EAS participants should be given 30-days notice of upcoming live code emergency alert system tests “to allow for planning and coordination,” the American Cable Association said in meetings with aides to Chairman Ajit Pai, Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel and Commissioner Brendan Carr, plus Public Safety Bureau staff, an ex parte filing in docket 15-91 posted Friday said. “We agree that this modest step would encourage wider participation in live code tests and help minimize disruptive side effects,” ACA said. Authorities should obtain contact information from EAS test participants that may have limited visibility within State Emergency Communications Committees (SECCs) or other planning bodies,” ACA said. The FCC “should work with State and local authorities as appropriate to help these authorities identify and acquire contact information for such participants.”
The FCC Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council approved working group reports on the "Transition Path to NG911" (here) and "Re-imagining of Emergency Alerting" (here) at a meeting Friday. Working Group 1's next-generation transition report includes analysis and recommendations of best practices for enhancing the migration from legacy 911 systems, said Budge Currier, branch manager of the California Governor Office of Emergency Services, presenting highlights. He said the report also deals with cybersecurity issues. "Read the report -- there's a lot of good information in there," he said. Working Group 1 received FCC approval to continue to review best practices and identify gaps that could be filled, with a target of reporting back by December, and no later than spring 2019, he said. Dorothy Spears-Dean, public safety communications coordinator of the Virginia Information Technology Agency, said the group is developing a report on the small carrier NG-911 transition for the Sept. 28 CSRIC meeting. Working Group 2's report made a series of recommendations for emergency alerting mechanisms, including on technical enhancements, improved geographic targeting to devices, and improving alert usefulness for people with hearing or vision disabilities, said Farrokh Khatibi, Qualcomm director-engineering, showing highlights. "It's really important we take care of everyone." Drew Morin, T-Mobile director-federal cyber security technology and engineering programs, presented an update on Working Group 3's efforts to deliver in September best practices and recommendations to secure wireless 5G networks.
The Senate passed the Authenticating Local Emergencies and Real Threats (Alert) Act Tuesday under unanimous consent. S-2385 would give the federal government the sole authority to issue missile threat alerts and pre-empt state and local governments' role in issuing such warnings. The bill would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency National Advisory Council's Integrated Public Alert and Warning System subcommittee “make recommendations on the best practices that state and local governments should follow to maintain the integrity of IPAWS.” Senate Communications Subcommittee ranking member Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, filed S-2385 to address issues highlighted in the Jan. 13 false missile warning in Hawaii (see 1802060055 and 1802070052). Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, D-Hawaii, led filing of House companion HR-4965, with Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii (see 1804050055). “The people who know first should be the people who tell the rest of us,” Schatz said. “This legislation makes it clear that the authority to send missile alerts rests with the federal government.” FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel tweeted that it “makes clear the responsibility to send missile alerts rests with the federal government.”