[sbe-eas] FCC Proposes New EAS Code for Missing and Endangered Persons

[John D]

    On Friday, February 23, 2024 at 08:29:29 AM MST, FRANK BELL <fbell at kynx.us> wrote:  
 
 Dear Sean Donelan and SBE,While you are quite relevant with those numbers, this is overlooking the implementation of selectively delivering alerts which is quite possible with nextgenTV. It is also possible with HD Radio and DAB+, though some adaptation or reinterpretation of Part 11 would be needed. One possibility could be that smarter radios could identify a News-Alerts-Weather (from NWR) on mono, lower sample rate HD3 or even HD4 in a market area as well as other FM analog alerts with program on HD1 and the improved EAS as header data for smart receivers to select which.
As for MEP, this is already included in the CAP Event Terms list, though the three letter code is MVS for Missing Vulnerable person Statement, which straightforward to change to MEP.
With cellphones receiving nextgenTV, there becomes more importance to harmonize WEA with EAS. One consideration would be to only carry alerts which have an Automation Priority Number of 4 or lower, especially when driving.Frank Bell.
On Fri, Feb 23, 2024, 09:52 Sean Donelan <sean at donelan.com> wrote:


Do broadcasters want to interrupt programming 187,000 more times a year?

Satellite and streaming don't interrupt programming for EAS.  Will 187,000
interruptions accelerate the the loss of the broadcast audience?

Do cellular telephone operators want to handle customer complaints from 
187,000 phone alerts at all hours of the day and night?

Maybe we've found a use for AM band radios in cars which no one listens 
too.


On Fri, 23 Feb 2024, Walke, Larry via sbe-eas wrote:
> Here is a link to the FCC's draft NPRM about a new "MEP" code, https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-400681A1.pdf, with excerpts of the FCC's background and summary below:
>
> Background:
> [I]n the United States, in 2022, approximately 187,000 adults who fell outside of the criteria for either AMBER Alerts or Silver Alerts went missing. This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking would propose to facilitate the more efficient and widespread dissemination of alerts and coordinated responses to incidents involving missing and endangered persons, an issue that is particularly prevalent in Tribal communities.
>
> What the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Would Do:
> * Propose and seek comment on revising the EAS rules to adopt a new EAS event code for Missing and Endangered Persons (MEP). This proposed new MEP event code would allow for the transmission of "Ashanti Alerts" associated with persons missing or abducted from states, territories, or Tribal communities to the public over the EAS.
> * Propose and seek comment on three criteria for this new event code: (1) individuals over the age of 17; (2) missing adults who have special needs or circumstances; and (3) missing adults who are endangered or who have been abducted or kidnapped.
> * Seek comment on:
> o Whether establishing a dedicated MEP event code would aid in the development of the national communications network contemplated by the Ashanti Alert Act.
> o Whether there are any particular privacy or other civil liberties concerns the Commission should consider in implementing the proposed MEP event code.
> o What actions communities have taken to educate the public on missing endangered persons and Ashanti Alerts and the appropriate responses to those alerts.
> o What effect the adoption of an MEP event code for EAS would have on WEA.
> o The timeframe in which MEP as a dedicated EAS event code for missing endangered person alerts, including Ashanti Alerts, could be implemented.
>
>
> Larry Walke, NAB Legal & Regulatory
> (202) 429-5313 (o)
> (202) 607-7611 (c)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: sbe-eas <sbe-eas-bounces at sbe.org> On Behalf Of Sean Donelan
> Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2024 2:47 PM
> To: sbe-eas at sbe.org
> Subject: Re: [sbe-eas] FCC Proposes New EAS Code for Missing and Endangered Persons
>
> EXTERNAL EMAIL:
>
>
> 1. Overwarning fatigue
> 2. WEA 3.0 doesn't use EAS codes
> 3. MEP doesn't follow past precedent for EAS code categories (final letter of the 3-letter code) 4. Some states already transmit missing and endangered persons alerts without needing a new EAS code, public and broadcasters ignore them 5. Alerting Authority training and decades of experience have shown originators are confused by too many codes are used for what
>
> But politicians are going to be politicians.  Do something, even if it doesn't make a difference.
>
>
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