S. 2693: Reliable Emergency Alert Distribution Improvement Act of 2019

116th Congress

A bill to improve oversight by the Federal Communications Commission of the wireless and broadcast emergency alert systems.

Sponsor: Sen. Brian Schatz — D — HI

Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in consultation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to adopt regulations to: • Ensure subscribers to commercial mobile services receive emergency alerts from FEMA, • Require State Emergency Communication Committees (SECCs) to review and update their Emergency Alert System (EAS) plans each year and submit those plans to the FCC for approval, • Establish a system to collect false alert reports under the EAS or Wireless Emergency Alert System, and • Modify the EAS to allow repeating messages from the President or FEMA while an emergency persists. The bill also requires the FCC to study the feasibility of providing EAS alerts through internet-based applications. Finally, the bill requires FEMA to issue guidance on how state, local, and tribal governments can participate in the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System.

View the full vote history of this bill on GovTrack.us.