[EAS] Proposed Error Reporting

[Gary Timm]

To all of you who agree with the comments of Dave and Rod below asking why EAS Participants are saddled with this false alert reporting, below are a portion of the comments of Commissioner O'Rielly found at the end of the R&O document:

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>         STATEMENT OF

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>COMMISSIONER MICHAEL O'RIELLY

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>                                                                            APPROVING IN PART, DISSENTING IN PART

Erroneous alerts about incoming missiles, tsunamis, and other misinformation are frightening, inexcusable, and must stop.  However, when it comes to the content of an EAS or wireless emergency alert (WEA) message, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the expert agency, as designated by Congress.  The role of the Commission is to ensure that the alerts get passed through communications networks to consumers.

I am generally concerned that we are overstepping our bounds into territory provided to DHS and FEMA.  Today's order now adopts new mandates that require communications providers that have actual knowledge that a false EAS alert was issued to contact the FCC Operations Center.  But, the near-catastrophic mistake in Hawaii was the fault of a delusional individual, who still thought he did the right thing days later and was eventually terminated from employment.  That incident does not justify new burdens on the private sector that did nothing wrong.  At least my suggestion that the standard be based on actual knowledge was accepted.  But, private sector entities that pass through these messages should not bear the burden or responsibility of having to determine whether a message they did not originate is, in fact, accurate and report to the Commission if it is not.

Similarly, the notice portion of the item contains a proposal requiring states and localities to add information about their procedures to prevent and mitigate false alerts in their State EAS Plans and seeks comment on what procedures should be detailed in these descriptions.  In the IPAWS Modernization Act of 2015, Congress specifically gave FEMA the authority to "modernize" the integrated public alert and warning system "to disseminate timely and effective warnings regarding natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters or threats to public safety."  And, the law clearly states that FEMA shall, among others, "establish or adopt, as appropriate, common alerting and warning protocols, standards, terminology, and operating procedures for the public alert and warning system." Pursuant to this Act, FEMA should be determining what types of procedures should be in place when a false alert is issued and what information should be reported to the government, not the FCC. 

WHY DO THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS NOT GET THIS?
Gary Timm
WI SECC

From: Dave Kline <dkline at tvmail.unomaha.edu>

I agree fully with everything you said here Rod.
If I screw up, I'll take the responsibility for cleaning up the mess. If I don't, then I should expect someone to bring the heat.
If I'm just the messenger, why should I be held accountable?
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Dave Kline  UNO-TV/Mav Radio/KVNO
University of Nebraska at Omaha
6001 Dodge St. Omaha, NE  68182  CPACS 200

On Jul 13, 2018, at 3:05 PM, Rod Zeigler wrote:

>To me it makes no sense at all in having FCC license holders themselves report "errors", no matter what the final definition of "errors" becomes.

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