Commenters Generally Support FCC WEA, EAS Proposals
Commenters in docket 15-94 on FCC-proposed changes to wireless emergency alerts, state emergency communications committees (SECCs) and false alert reporting rules largely supported the plans. Some raised concerns about alert fatigue, confidentiality and how future “presidential” alerts should be designated to avoid public backlash. Proposed rule changes in a unanimously approved March NPRM (see 2103170070) stem from the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, which gives the FCC until June 30 to implement new rules.
FCC proposals to encourage jurisdictions to establish SECCs got nearly universal support from the EAS industry entities, trade groups and emergency entities that commented. “It is vital that every state have an SECC which meets not less frequently than annually and maintains an updated EAS plan,” said Washington state's SECC. “Failure to rigorously review and update State EAS Plans on an annual basis endangers the effectiveness and integrity of State EAS,” said the sister agencies National Weather Service, NOAA and Department of Commerce.
Low-power FM entity REC Networks said some state broadcast associations "continue to engage in discrimination against [noncommercial educational] and especially LPFM licensees.” In some jurisdictions, LPFM stations are eligible only for an “associate” membership and have no voting rights, REC said. It and the New York City Emergency Management Department (NYCEM) said confidentiality rules for state EAS plans could make it harder for other entities involved in emergency alerting.
The NPRM proposes merging presidential and Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator wireless alerts to create a mandatory WEA, and several entities proposed changing the designation of the alert to make the source clear and prevent backlash. The label “Federal Alerts” would “minimize consumer confusion,” said CTIA. REC supported “National Alerts.” Presidents “can be polarizing figures, and one’s perception toward the President may delay and/or detract from the critical public safety message that a national WEA activation would aim to galvanize,” said NYCEM.
Most commenters supported the plan to allow repeating alerts by having originators manually repeat them if needed, as opposed to an automated process. “We agree with the FCC that this mechanism fulfills the legislation’s requirements,” said NAB. EAS equipment manufactures also co-signed this proposal. “This greatly reduces the cost to all stakeholders that changes of this level to EAS would cause, and leaves control of repeating information in the hands of originators,” said Sage Alerting.
Several said allowing repeating alerts to be used outside rare events such as missile alerts should be done with caution. “With this wider scope, we caution that widespread repetition of state and local alerts could cause alert fatigue,” said NCTA. “Inundating the public with repeated warnings of ordinary weather events may create frustration and annoyance for listeners and viewers,” said ACA Connects.
Procedures for false alert reporting were generally supported. Digital Alert Systems and others said the FCC should define what constitutes a false alert. NYCEM said the FCC should solicit specific information in each instance. The commission “is more likely to obtain timely and relevant information about a false alert from the government authority that issued it than from downstream EAS participants,” said ACA.
Hearing impaired groups want the agency to require national alerts include URLs for additional information. “Such information should be made available (at a minimum)” in American Sign Language and other languages, filed Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, American Association of the DeafBlind and others. America’s Public Television Stations and PBS said the FCC should be careful with the costs associated with new WEA rules because of the lack of additional funding for the PBS Warning, Alert and Response Network. Adopt rules requiring phone handset makers allow their phones to receive WEAs, said the Navajo Nation and Navajo Nation Telecommunications Regulatory Commission.