WASHINGTON—Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin agreed to delay a decision on new emergency alert system rules expected to apply for the first time to mobile phone and other communications services. But Martin was silent when confronted by criticism about the agency’s apparent intention to move from a voluntary to mandatory EAS participation.
Martin appeared before the Senate Commerce Committee at a hearing on his re-nomination to the FCC.
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), lead sponsor of a bill to modernize the nation’s emergency warning system, got a commitment from Martin to hold off on EAS reform after raising concerns about potential problems if the FCC acts before Congress finishes work on the Warning, Alerts and Response Network Act. DeMint said the FCC should not mandate participation in a new EAS regime.
An FCC spokesman declined comment on whether the agency planned to approve mandatory EAS rules. There were indications the FCC was poised to vote on new EAS rules at its Sept. 26 meeting. That is unlikely to occur as a result of Martin’s vow to postpone action on upgrading a Cold War-era public warning system. The FCC has been studying changes to EAS for the past two years.
The Senate today is expected to approve amending the WARN Act to a port security bill. It could be weeks, however, until it is clear whether Congress will be able to pass the WARN Act before adjourning for mid-term elections. A companion House EAS bill has yet to get out of committee.
Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) said he would send written questions to Martin on why enhanced, location-based wireless 911 is still unavailable in much of the country almost two years after E-911 legislation was signed into law.
Meanwhile, John Kneuer, nominated to head the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, took heat from Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) for failing to lay out a firm timeline to begin awarding grants from a congressionally-authorized $1 billion fund to state agencies for interoperable communications. NTIA is authorized to start making interoperability grants on Oct. 1.
