FCC Considering Changes to Wireless Alerts, Pai Says
The FCC is acting in response to a GAO report on wireless emergency alerts and other alerting issues, Chairman Ajit Pai said in a letter to Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., posted Friday in docket 20-14. “I…
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share GAO's view on the importance of gathering and assessing specific performance information about the effectiveness of these systems' enhanced capabilities -- many of which have only recently become available,” Pai said: “The Commission has a pending rulemaking proceeding that specifically seeks comment on whether the Commission should adopt performance metrics, such as benchmarks regarding the extent to which these alerts have been received.” The Public Safety Bureau had been working with local jurisdictions to do end-to-end WEA tests of geotargeting effectiveness, but that was suspended due to COVID-19, Pai said. Once the agency has a better understanding of system performance, it will be able to make “better-informed” decisions on improving it, future tests, and resolving the pending rulemaking on WEA performance metrics, Pai said.