S The Warning, Alert, and Response Network Act Bob Bolster Director, Government Affairs December 14, 2005

Legislative History S introduced by Sen. Jim DeMint on Sept. 22, cosponsors: Senators Stevens, Nelson, Inouye, Lott, Vitter, Landrieu, and Snowe Oct. 20, 2005 Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee marked up legislation Currently awaiting Senate Floor consideration Presently no House companion bill

Purpose of the Bill Create National Alert System that builds upon current alerting capabilities Provide alerts to the public across a variety of media technologies Provide for development and administration of unified alerting system Allow Federal, State, Local and Tribal officials to provide alerts to their communities across variety of communication technologies Ensure that an individual will receive an alert of a pending threat regardless of their location or communications technologies in use Authorizes $250 million to initiate system

Highlights of S Sec. 103 Implementation and Use  National Alert Office establishes procedure to provide appropriate govt’ officials with credentials to access National Alert System to send alerts to the public  Outline requirements for emergency alerts (pose imminent threat to public safety) that would be transmitted across the system  FCC is required to initiate a proceeding after technical standards have been adopted by National Alert Office to allow wireless providers to participate in system and retransmit alerts  After FCC issues order, wireless providers can opt-in or opt-out

Highlights of S Sec. 103 Implementation and Use  Build on the work of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) pilot project  Digital public television towers to serve as backbone for the distribution of alerts  To promote industry participation participants will receive liability protection

Highlights of S Section 104 National Alert Office  Establishes National Alert Office within NOAA  Led by Director with significant emergency alerting experience  Staffed by individuals w/ significant experience in telecom industry w/ detailees from DHS and FEMA

Highlights of S Section 105 National Alert System Working Group  Establishes National Alert System Working Group Develop detailed recommendations for the protocols and standards for the system Procedures modifying and canceling alerts transmitted across system Guidelines for technical capabilities of the system Standards for equipment to be used by the system Working group should pay particular attention to existing Federal, State, and Local systems and the associated protocols when appropriate

Highlights of S Section 106 Research and Development  Establish a research and development program lead by Director of National Alert Office  Develop technologies necessary to enable communications providers to retransmit alerts from the system  Primary focus on developing technologies for the delivery of geographically targeted alerts over wireless devices  Senate Commerce Committee stresses that NIST has extensive expertise that could be offered to the R&D program  National Alert Office strongly encouraged to work with NIST

Views on Creation of National Alert System Wireless Industry recognizes importance of this effort CTIA and the industry have dedicated significant resources towards an emergency alert capability and have coordinated efforts with DHS, FEMA, and FCC Sensible emergency alerting policy must take into account industry’s multi-billion dollar network investment and future technological capabilities. Need to have continuing process for identifying emergency alert environment, as well as industry capabilities Scope of who uses system and for what purpose very important as it relates to cost, management, and effectiveness of service

Views on Creation of National Alert System  Balance industry’s existing capabilities while recognizing the industry is evolving  Currently, wireless networks not set up to deliver specific targeted geographic messages  Handsets and/or networks would have to be upgraded or replaced to provide service  Development and deployment of geographic service takes time and financial resources

Views on Creation of National Alert System  CTIA and industry are working with FEMA on voluntary effort to deliver Presidential-level-Emergency Alert messages vis-a- vis SMS SMS exists in majority of handsets SMS limitations – number of messages/number of characters Existing network designed for point-to-point or customer- to-customer

Views on Creation of National Alert System  Model to emulate: A Government/Industry partnership to facilitate development and deployment of the service  Example: Wireless Priority Service (WPS)  WPS – voluntary White House-directed National Security/Emergency Preparedness program  Utilizes commercial wireless networks to deliver priority access to key government officials during times of crisis  NCS and FCC worked with industry to develop service requirements  No mandates – government provided funding to manufacturers to develop capability  Rapid deployment

Guiding Principles for Joint Government/Industry Consideration  Liability Relief  Service Description  Designation of Authority for Development of an Emergency Alert Service  Designation of Authority for Operation of an Emergency Alert Service  Research, Development, Deployment, and Implementation Support