On August 4, 2004, the FCC sought comment on whether the EAS is the most effective mechanism for warning the American public of an emergency and, if not, how the EAS can be improved. In addition, the Commission has also sought comment regarding whether there should be a concerted governmental effort to combine the EAS with alternative public alert and warning systems to form a comprehensive and universally accessible public warning system.
On October 29, APTS filed comments arguing that the public television digital broadcast infrastructure can contribute to these goals in two ways. First, as Public Television moves forward to rebuild the system of satellite and terrestrial links that constitute the means by which stations interconnect with PBS and each other, an opportunity exists for the cooperative use of the interconnection system by both public television and the Department of Homeland Security/FEMA to enhance the effectiveness of EAS. Second, many public television stations throughout the nation are exploring opportunities to use a portion of their digital broadcast allotment to transmit public safety data on a local and regional basis.
In November of 2005, the FCC issued an order designed to improve the Emergency Alert System (EAS). It ruled that the current EAS rules will apply to providers of digital broadcast and cable TV, digital audio broadcasting, satellite radio and direct broadcast satellite services. Digital broadcast television stations must comply with these new requirements by December 31, 2006.
The FCC also sought comment on a number of additional issues, including how it could best help to develop a next-generation alert and warning system that takes full advantage of digital media’s potential. Notably, the FCC specifically asked for comment on the Public Television proposal to use its digital infrastructure and satellite system for the distribution of national, state and local alerts. The FCC also asked for comment on what role it should play vis-à-vis FEMA with respect to the APTS pilot and other FEMA initiatives.
On January 24, 2006, APTS filed comments providing further detail concerning the public safety activities of member stations, the use of the public television interconnection system and the second stage of the APTS-DHS pilot.
