The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposes action to improve the clarity and accessibility of visual Emergency Alert System messages to the public, particularly to people who are Deaf or hard of hearing. See the full call for comment details in the Federal Register notice.
The nation’s Emergency Alert System (EAS) ensures that the public is quickly informed about emergency alerts issued by government entities and delivered over broadcast, cable, and satellite television and radio media. The notice for public comment seeks to improve the clarity and accessibility of EAS visual messages to the public, including persons who are Deaf or hard of hearing, and others who are unable to access the audio message.
In a companion notice, the FCC seeks comment on additional EAS improvements and redesigns to enable matching visual and audio alert content and otherwise improve the clarity and accessibility of EAS messages for all persons who might receive them. The FCC seeks comment on how the legacy EAS architecture can be modified, augmented, or redesigned to enable alert originators to relay visual text that matches their audio message in legacy EAS alerts, as well as to enable more functionality within the EAS as a whole.
Comments are due on or before March 11, 2022, and reply comments are due on or before March 28, 2022.
Comments can be submitted, identified by PS Docket No. 15-94, by any of the following methods:
- Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the internet by accessing the ECFS: https://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/.
- Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing.
Filings can be sent by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701.
U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail must be addressed to 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.
People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an email to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice) or 202-418-0432 (TTY).For further information concerning the information contained in this document, send an email to David Munson, Attorney Advisor, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau at 202-418-2921 or David.Munson@fcc.gov, or Christopher Fedeli, Attorney Advisor, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau at Christopher.Fedeli@fcc.gov or call 202-418-1514.