Emergency Communications

The US Senate unanimously passed the Reliable Emergency Alert Distribution Improvement (READI) Act. The bipartisan legislation will ensure more people receive relevant emergency alerts on their mobile phones, televisions, and radios, explore new ways of alerting the public through online video and audio streaming services, track and study false alerts when they occur, and improve the way states plan for emergency alerts. “When a missile alert went out across Hawai‘i in January, some people never got the message on their phones, while others missed it on their TVs and radios.

A recap of the Federal Communications Commission's 2018 work to strengthen emergency calling and highlight some of our next steps for 2019. 1) Improving 911 Calling from Multi-Line Telephone Systems, 2) Examining How to Route Wireless 911 Calls More Quickly, 3) Helping First Responders Locate Wireless 911 Callers, and 4) Promoting Transparency About State 911 Fees.

On Nov 26, 2018, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai responded to an Aug 31 letter from Sen Ed Markey (D-MA) and Rep Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and to a Sept 6 letter from Sens Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Kamala Harris (D-CA) regarding the problems the Santa Clara County Fire Department had using Verizon's network as they battled the Mendocino Complex Fire. The lawmakers were concerend about Verizon's throtttling of the first responders' communication.

It's now been almost ten months since my colleague, FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, and I penned an op-ed in The Hill reaffirming the need to end states' diversion of critical 9-1-1 fees collected from consumers to non-9-1-1 functions.

The s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau is seeking public comment to better inform its understanding and awareness of stakeholders’ readiness, preparation, and response with respect to Hurricane Michael. The bureau has a number of questions concerning: 1) Service Provider Preparation and Response, 2) Improvements to FCC Response, and 3) Communications Service User Experience. Comments are due December 17, 2018. (PS Docket No. 18-339)

For Americans who can afford reliable phone service, help surviving a natural disaster is just a phone call away. Individuals in the path of a storm can dial 2-1-1 to get answers to non-emergency questions such as the location of shelters and evacuation areas. After the storm has passed, 2-1-1 provides access to disaster resources including food and housing assistance, crisis counseling, and health and human services.

There's no better time for state and local governments to get serious about developing proactive approaches to keeping residents connected in the days, months and years following a natural disaster. Among the programs that should be advertised to disaster survivors is the federal Lifeline program, which provides a subsidy that covers all or a portion of the cost of wireless voice and internet services for low-income consumers who qualify.

Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced the appointment of six individuals to serve on the Board of the First Responder Network Authority, including five new members. 

In recent days, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai ordered his agency to investigate telecommunication carriers’ slow response in restoring service to the Florida Panhandle, which Hurricane Michael struck on Oct 10. Free Press applauds Chairman Pai for holding telecom companies accountable in this instance. But Chairman Pai failed to show the same urgency in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, which struck Puerto Rico in 2017 and left nearly the entire population without phone and broadband service.