[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 81 (Thursday, April 26, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 18257-18259]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08772]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 10

[PS Docket Nos. 15-91, 15-94; DA 18-302]


Parties Asked To Refresh the Record on Facilitating Multimedia 
Content in Wireless Emergency Alerts

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Public Safety and Homeland Security 
Bureau (Bureau) seeks to refresh the record on the issue of 
facilitating multimedia content (such as photos and maps) in Wireless 
Emergency Alert (WEA) messages raised in the 2016 Report and Order and 
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in this proceeding.

DATES: Comments are due on or before May 29, 2018 and reply comments 
are due on or before June 11, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by PS Docket Nos. 15-91 
and 15-94, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Federal Communications Commission's Website: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, 
by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. 
Postal Service mail (although the Commission continues to experience 
delays in receiving U.S. Postal Service mail). All filings must be 
addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, 
Federal Communications Commission.
     People With Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request 
reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language 
interpreters, CART, etc.) by Email: [email protected] or phone: (202) 418-
0530 or TTY: (202) 418-0432.

    For detailed instructions for submitting comments and additional 
information on the rulemaking process, see the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John A. Evanoff, Attorney-Advisor, 
Policy and Licensing Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security 
Bureau, (202) 418-0848 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's 
document in PS Docket Nos. 15-91, 15-94; DA 18-302, released on March 
28, 2018. It is available on the

[[Page 18258]]

Commission's website at https://www.fcc.gov.

Synopsis

    1. By this document, DA 18-302, the Public Safety and Homeland 
Security Bureau (Bureau) of the Federal Communications Commission 
(Commission) invites interested parties to update the record on the 
feasibility of including multimedia content in Wireless Emergency Alert 
(WEA) messages.
    2. Currently, the Commission's rules do not specify technical 
requirements for enabling multimedia content in WEA alert messages. In 
the 2016 WEA Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
(WEA R&O and FNPRM), 81 FR 78539, Nov. 8, 2016, the Commission 
recognized that additional standards development remains necessary. 
Accordingly, the Commission sought comment regarding the establishment 
of an appropriate regulatory framework and timeframe for incorporating 
multimedia capability into WEA alert messages. Numerous stakeholders 
responded to that request.
    3. Since the release of the WEA R&O and FNPRM, the Commission has 
taken measures to strengthen WEA as a tool for emergency managers to 
communicate with the public. For example, the Commission revised its 
rules to ensure that emergency managers can geographically target 
alerts to only those phones located in areas affected by an emergency. 
When the WEA program launched in 2012, Participating Commercial Mobile 
Service (CMS) Providers were generally required to send alerts to a 
geographic area no larger than the county or counties affected by the 
emergency situation. As of November 1, 2017, all Participating CMS 
Providers must transmit alerts to a geographic area that ``best 
approximates'' the area affected by the emergency situation, and by 
November 30, 2019, all Participating CMS Providers must match the 
target area of the alert. In addition to improving the accuracy with 
which WEA messages must be geo-targeted, the Commission has taken 
action to improve emergency managers' ability to deliver more effective 
content in WEA messages. For example, as of November 1, 2017, 
nationwide Participating CMS Providers must support the inclusion of 
embedded references (i.e., URLs and phone numbers) in WEA messages. By 
May 1, 2019, Participating CMS Providers also must support longer WEA 
alerts (with the maximum Alert Message length increasing from 90 to 360 
characters for 4G LTE and future networks) and the transmission of 
Spanish-language alert messages. Also as of May 1, 2019, authorized 
State and local alert initiators will be able to conduct ``end-to-end'' 
WEA tests that can be received by members of their communities, in 
order to assess how WEA is working within their jurisdictions.
    4. In response to The Commission continues to consider the WEA 
FNPRM's proposal regarding multimedia alerting, and the Bureau requests 
that interested commenters refresh the record with any new information 
or arguments. Commenters should address the technical feasibility for 
requiring multimedia content in WEA messages, including the current 
state of multimedia testing and standards development. Commenters 
should also address with particularity the potential costs and benefits 
to public safety and Participating CMS Providers for supporting the 
inclusion of multimedia content in WEA messages, given the other 
changes to WEA that are currently ongoing.

Procedural Matters

A. Accessible Formats

    5. To request materials in accessible formats for people with 
disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), 
send an email to [email protected] or call the Consumer & Governmental 
Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty). Contact the 
FCC to request reasonable accommodations for filing comments 
(accessible format documents, sign language interpreters, CARTS, etc.) 
by email: [email protected]; phone: (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 
(TTY).

B. Filing Requirements

    6. Ex Parte Rules. This proceeding shall be treated as a ``permit-
but-disclose'' proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte 
rules. Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy of any 
written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentation 
within two business days after the presentation (unless a different 
deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons making 
oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the 
presentation must (1) list all persons attending or otherwise 
participating in the meeting at which the ex parte presentation was 
made, and (2) summarize all data presented and arguments made during 
the presentation. If the presentation consisted in whole or in part of 
the presentation of data or arguments already reflected in the 
presenter's written comments, memoranda or other filings in the 
proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such data or 
arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other filings 
(specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where such data 
or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the 
memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex 
parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must 
be filed consistent with rule 1.1206(b). In proceedings governed by 
rule 1.49(f) or for which the Commission has made available a method of 
electronic filing, written ex parte presentations and memoranda 
summarizing oral ex parte presentations, and all attachments thereto, 
must be filed through the electronic comment filing system available 
for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (e.g., 
.doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants in this proceeding 
should familiarize themselves with the Commission's ex parte rules.
    7. Comment and Reply Comment. Pursuant to Sec. Sec.  1.415 and 
1.419 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 1.415, 1.419, interested 
parties may file comments and reply comments on or before the dates 
indicated on the first page of this document. Comments may be filed 
using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). See 
Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 
(1998).
     Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically 
using the internet by accessing the ECFS: http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/.
     Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must 
file an original and one copy of each filing. If more than one docket 
or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, filers 
must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or 
rulemaking number.
    Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, 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.
     All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings 
for the Commission's Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 
445 12th St. SW, Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. The filing hours 
are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together 
with

[[Page 18259]]

rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must be disposed of 
before entering the building.
     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 445 12th Street SW, 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 [email protected] or call the 
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-
418-0432 (tty).

C. Initial Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 Analysis

    8. This document does not contain proposed information collection 
requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 
104-13. In addition, therefore, it does not contain any proposed 
information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer 
than 25 employees, pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act 
of 2002, Public Law 107-198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4).

Federal Communications Commission.
Lisa Fowlkes,
Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2018-08772 Filed 4-25-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6712-01-P