[EAS] Intergovernmental Advisory Committee: EAS - State Participation in SECCS

[Sean Donelan]

I'm surprised that none of the SECC members have commented about the IAC 
report on Alert Initiation Plans.

It starts out well, identifying SECCS as voluntary, non-governmental 
advisory organizations.  But then goes off the rails recommending SECCs 
take on a bunch of responsibilities instead of the relevant government 
organizations.

https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-issues-advisory-committee-public-safety-and-telehealth-reports

Intergovernmental Advisory Committee to the Federal Communications 
Commission
Advisory Recommendation No: 2019-4
In the Matter of the Emergency Alert System - State Participation in the 
State Emergency COmmunications Committees (SECCS)
November 7, 2019

[...]
The EAS in each state is organized and administered by SECCs, which are 
non-governmental voluntary groups that often include representatives from 
broadcasters, state and local governments. Federal regulations require 
that SECCs draft State EAS Plans with guidelines that must be followed by 
EAS participants and other stakeholders. 
[...]

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Today, states vary considerably in the form and function of how SECCs are 
organized and their specific activities designed to improve responsiveness 
and accuracy of alerts in potential disasters. The following 
recommendations address statewide coordination generally and based on 
principles that the FCC should provide formal rules over SECCs that direct 
them to undertake specific coordinating actions:

A. General Recommendations
1. Require and Verify that SECC's Regularly Convene SLTT Emergency 
Managers

2. Encourage State EAS Plans to Include Social Media Strategies

B. Recommendations Regarding Testing and False Alerts
1. Require that SECCs Develop Standard Operating Procedures to Respond to 
False Alarms

2. Document State EAS Testing Procedures

3. Require that SECC's Define Protocols to Reduce the Opportunity for 
Human Error in Initiating the EAS

4. Require Standard Modifications to Alert Origination Software 
Manufacturers to Minimize False Alerts

5. Establish Multi-Path Ways to Facilitate Redundancy