Commercial Mobile Service Alert Advisory Committee

NOTICE OF FCC’S COMMERCIAL MOBILE SERVICE ALERT ADVISORY COMMITTEE’S
SECOND MEETING SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 12, 2007

Washington, D.C.: Pursuant to Section 603(d)(3) of the Warning Alert and Response Network Act (WARN Act) , this Public Notice gives notice that the Federal Communications Commission’s (the “Committee”) will hold its second meeting on Monday, March 12, 2007 starting at 10:00 a.m. in the Commission Meeting Room (TW-C305), Federal Communications Commission, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20554. The Commission will release an agenda for the March 12, 2007 meeting at a later date.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The March 12, 2007 meeting is open to members of the general public. The Commission will attempt to accommodate as many people as possible. Admittance, however, will be limited to the seating available. Real Audio access to the meeting will be available at www.fcc.gov/.

Written Comments: Members of the public may submit written comments before the meeting to: Lisa M. Fowlkes, Deputy Chief, Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau, Federal Communications Commission at lisa.fowlkes@fcc.gov or by U.S. Postal Mail (FCC, Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, Room 7-C753, Washington, DC 20554).

People with Disabilities: Open captioning will be provided for this event. Other reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. Requests for such accommodations should be submitted via e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or by calling the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (tty). Such requests should include a detailed description of the accommodation needed. In addition, please include a way we can contact you if we need more information. Please allow at least five days advance notice; last minute requests will be accepted, but may be impossible to fill.

BACKGROUND: The WARN Act requires that the Committee develop and recommend technical standards and protocols for the voluntary transmission of emergency alerts by Commercial Mobile Service (CMS) providers within one year from the date of enactment (i.e., October 12, 2007). The Committee must develop and submit to the Commission recommendations:

• For protocols, technical capabilities, and technical procedures through which electing CMS providers receive, verify, and transmit alerts to subscribers;
• For the establishment of technical standards for the reliable, secure and priority transmission of alerts by electing CMS providers to subscribers;
• For relevant technical standards for devices and equipment and technologies used by electing CMS providers to transmit emergency alerts to subscribers;
• For the technical capability to transmit emergency alerts by electing CMS providers to subscribers in languages in addition to English, to the extent practicable and feasible;
• Under which electing CMS providers may offer subscribers the capability of preventing the subscriber’s device from receiving emergency alerts, or classes of such alerts, (other than an alert issued by the President), consistent with section 602(b)(2)(E) of the WARN Act;
• For a process under which CMS providers can elect to transmit emergency alerts if—
o Not all of the devices or equipment used by such provider are capable of receiving such alerts; or
o The provider cannot offer such alerts throughout the entirety of its service area; and

• As otherwise necessary to enable electing CMS providers to transmit emergency alerts to subscribers.

For further information about the Committee, please visit the Committee’s website at www.fcc.gov/pshs/cmsaac.html. In addition, publicly available documents are available for copying and inspection in the Commission’s Public Reference Center, 445 12th Street, SW, Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554.

PSHSB Contact: Lisa M. Fowlkes ((202) 418-7452) or email: lisa.fowlkes@fcc.gov)

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-07-734A1.doc