FCC To Examine Requiring Expanded Emergency Alerts on Wireless Devices
The FCC plans at its Nov. 19 meeting to take up an NPRM on expanding wireless emergency alerts, said a notice Thursday from the agency. The FCC will also take up a report and order and NPRM aimed at updating its cellphone hearing aid compatibility (HAC) rules. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler called attention to both in a blog post, noting that November marks his second anniversary as chairman.
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“If you’re looking for evidence of communications technology’s power to save lives, look no further than the events of July 1, 2013 in East Windsor, Connecticut,” Wheeler wrote. On that date, a tornado swept through the town, hitting a soccer dome where minutes before 29 children and five camp counselors had gathered, he said. “With moments to spare, they were evacuated to an adjoining building where they sought shelter,” he said. “The reason they knew to seek cover was that the manager of the summer camp received an alert from the National Weather Service on her phone saying a tornado was headed her way, and she responded immediately.”
The FCC proposes to increase the amount and type of information that can be included in Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and to make it easier for state and local authorities to send warning messages, said Wheeler. “WEA has already saved lives,” Wheeler said. “It only makes sense to try to expand its use and increase its effectiveness.”
The HAC item expands the scope of the rules to cover to all forms of voice communications, Wheeler said. “If adopted, this action would cover emerging technologies such as Wi-Fi calling and VoLTE as well as those that may develop in the future,” he said. “In addition to these rules, the Commission will lay the groundwork for future improvements by calling on stakeholders to work collaboratively to develop a consensus plan for dramatically expanding the kinds of devices that Americans with hearing loss can use. … The draft item makes clear that a consensus solution is the preferred path forward, but the Commission will also seek comment on whether there are other steps it might take to ensure 100 percent of handsets are hearing aid compatible at the same time as promoting innovation and investment. These goals are not mutually exclusive.”
Earlier this week, the Competitive Carriers Association, CTIA and the Telecommunications Industry Association proposed alternative rules to a requirement that all cellphones sold by carriers be HAC ready (see 1510280017).
The tentative agenda also includes a second report and order, order on reconsideration, and second Further NPRM that would make it easier for the deaf and hard of hearing to access closed captioning features and govern how manufacturers and pay-TV companies inform consumers about accessibility features.