FCC Dismisses ACA Petition to Reconsider Emergency Alert Order

The Federal Communications Commission has granted the American Cable Association's withdrawal of a petition for reconsideration of the commission's mandate that cable operators be able to receive emergency alerts from FEMA in the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) broadband Internet format after ACA essentially said "never mind."

ACA withdrew the April 20 petition because the FCC had set a comment period on the petition that extended to July 3, even though the mandate to be CAP-compliant was June 30. The group is looking for swift action from the FCC on waiver requests, however. ACA pointed out in its June 11 withdrawal petition that given the deadlines, there could be no "meaningful relief" and that it was essentially moot. The FCC agreed. The FCC had said in its order that lack of a broadband Internet connection would be considered a presumption in favor of a waiver of the requirement since it makes no sense to require equipment that can't be used, but ACA had wanted a streamlined waiver process for small cable operators with 500 or fewer subs.