Leader in Public Safety Communications™

PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON WAYS TO FACILITATE EARTHQUAKE-RELATED EMERGENCY ALERTS

DA 16-380
Released: Apr. 8, 2016

PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON WAYS TO FACILITATE EARTHQUAKE-RELATED EMERGENCY ALERTS
PS Docket No. 16-32

COMMENTS DUE: May 9, 2016
REPLY COMMENTS DUE: Jun. 8, 2016

I. INTRODUCTION
On December 18, 2015, Congress enacted the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016,1 which directs the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) to submit a report within nine months of enactment (i.e., by September 18, 2016), that details the regulatory and statutory framework for delivery of earthquake-related emergency alerts using the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS). Specifically, the Act states:

The FCC shall submit a report to Congress within 9 months of enactment of this act detailing all regulatory and statutory changes that would be necessary to ensure that earthquake-related      emergency alerts using the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System and other associated alerting systems can be delivered to and received by the public in fewer than 3 seconds. The report shall include an analysis of signals, cell phone protocols, geographic targeting, and limitations on message length and content, as well as similar parameters associated with the
dissemination of alerts by non-wireless providers.2

To assist the Commission in developing its report to Congress, particularly given the comprehensive and technical scope of the information requested, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau seeks comment on the issues discussed below. In particular, we seek comment on technical aspects of IPAWS and its associated alerting systems, as well as other alerting schemes with which the Commission has not previously been involved, in order to build a robust record on potential models for delivering earthquake early warning (EEW) to the entire public in fewer than three seconds.3

READ MORE: FCC PS Docket No. 16-32

Contact Us