FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 4, 2004

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Suzanne Tetreault at (202) 418-7450

Washington, D.C. - The Commission today issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) concerning the Emergency Alert System (EAS), seeking comment on how EAS can be improved to be a more effective mechanism for warning the American public of an emergency. The action stems in part from recommendations of the Media Security and Reliability Council (an FCC Advisory Committee), and the Partnership for Public Warning.

The Commission has already begun - and will continue throughout this proceeding - to coordinate carefully with the Department of Homeland Security and its component, FEMA and the Department of Commerce and its component, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. These Federal partners will be active participants in the proceeding. In addition, the Commission seeks participation of state and local emergency planning organizations as well as all communications industries involved in alert and warning.

Action by the Commission, August 4, 2004, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Matter of Review of the Emergency Alert System. (FCC 04-189). Chairman Powell, Commissioners Abernathy, Copps, Martin, and Adelstein with separate statements issued by Chairman Powell, Commissioners Abernathy, Copps, Martin, and Adelstein.

Enforcement Bureau Contacts: Suzanne Tetreault at (202) 418-7450 and James Dailey at (202) 418-1199.

EB Docket No. 04-296