EAS Forum Discusses FCC EAS NPRM

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and its Integrated Public Alert and Warning System division are working toward a national test of the emergency alert system to take place Sept. 28, said an FCC ex parte filing documenting Monday's 2016 EAS forum and posted Wednesday in docket 15-91. The forum included representatives of state broadcasting associations and Public Safety Bureau staff including Chief David Simpson. The National Weather Service is close to being able to receive non-weather emergency alerts, the filing said. The NWS could do such alerts now, but is concerned about duplicate EAS alerts, the filing said. At the forum, Simpson discussed the recent FCC NPRM on improving EAS, and told the group that the proposed rules had the support of all four regular commissioners. The forum also discussed further modifications to state EAS boards, and a multilingual EAS pilot program.