,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bfic ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,october #bd1 #bjai,mr4 ,schatz 7for himself and ,mr4 ,thune7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to improve oversight by the ,federal ,communications ,commission of the wireless and broadcast emergency alert systems4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,reliable ,emergency ,alert ,distribution ,improvement ,act of #bjai or ,,readi ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act-- 7#a7 the term ,administrator means the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency2 7#b7 the term ,commission means the ,federal ,communications ,commission2 7#c7 the term ,emergency ,alert ,system means the national public warning system1 the rules for which are set forth in part #aa of title #dg1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or any successor regulation72 and 7#d7 the term ,wireless ,emergency ,alert ,system means the wireless national public warning system established under the ,warning1 ,alert1 and ,response ,network ,act 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #abja et seq471 the rules for which are set forth in part #aj of title #dg1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or any successor regulation74 #c4 ,wireless ,emergency ,alert ,system offerings 7a7 ,amendment ,section #fjb7;b77#b77;,e7 of the ,warning1 ,alert1 and ,response ,network ,act 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #abja7;b77#b77;,e77 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking the second and third sentences2 and 7#b7 by striking other than an alert issued by the ,president4 and inserting the following3 other than an alert issued by-- 7,a7 the ,president2 or 7,b7 the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency4 4 7b7 ,regulations ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,commission1 in consultation with the ,administrator1 shall adopt regulations to implement the amendment made by subsection 7a77#b74 #d4 ,state ,emergency ,alert ,system ,plans and ,emergency ,communications ,committees 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section-- 7#a7 the term ,,secc means a ,state ,emergency ,communications ,committee2 7#b7 the term ,state means any ,state of the ,united ,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 the ,united ,states ,virgin ,islands1 ,guam1 ,american ,samoa1 the ,commonwealth of the ,northern ,mariana ,islands1 and any possession of the ,united ,states2 and 7#c7 the term ,state ,,eas ,plan means a ,state ,emergency ,alert ,system ,plan4 7b7 ,state ,emergency ,communications ,committee ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,commission shall adopt regulations that-- 7#a7 encourage the chief executive of each ,state-- 7,a7 to establish an ,,secc if the ,state does not have an ,,secc2 or 7,b7 if the ,state has an ,,secc1 to review the composition and governance of the ,,secc2 7#b7 provide that-- 7,a7 each ,,secc1 not less frequently than annually1 shall-- 7i7 meet to review and update its ,state ,,eas ,plan2 7ii7 certify to the ,commission that the ,,secc has met as required under clause 7i72 and 7iii7 submit to the ,commission an updated ,state ,,eas ,plan2 and 7,b7 not later than #fj days after the date on which the ,commission receives an updated ,state ,,eas ,plan under subparagraph 7,a77iii71 the ,commission shall-- 7i7 approve or disapprove the updated ,state ,,eas ,plan2 and 7ii7 notify the chief executive of the ,state of the ,commission's findings2 and 7#c7 establish a ,state ,,eas ,plan content checklist for ,s,e,c,cs to use when reviewing and updating a ,state ,,eas ,plan for submission to the ,commission under paragraph 7#b77;,a74 7c7 ,consultation ,the ,commission shall consult with the ,administrator regarding the adoption of regulations under subsection 7b77#c74 #e4 ,integrated public alert and warning system guidance 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator shall develop and issue guidance on how ,state1 ,tribal1 and local governments can participate in the integrated public alert and warning system of the ,united ,states described in section #ebf of the ,homeland ,security ,act of #bjjb 7#f ,u4,s4,c4 #cbao7 7referred to in this section as the public alert and warning system7 while maintaining the integrity of the public alert and warning system1 including-- 7#a7 guidance on the categories of public emergencies and appropriate circumstances that warrant an alert and warning from ,state1 ,tribal1 and local governments using the public alert and warning system2 7#b7 the procedures for ,state1 ,tribal1 and local government officials to authenticate civil emergencies and initiate1 modify1 and cancel alerts transmitted through the public alert and warning system1 including protocols and technology capabilities for-- 7,a7 the initiation1 or prohibition on the initiation1 of alerts by a single authorized or unauthorized individual2 7,b7 testing a ,state1 ,tribal1 or local government incident management and warning tool without accidentally initiating an alert through the public alert and warning system2 and 7,c7 steps a ,state1 ,tribal1 or local government official should take to mitigate the possibility of the issuance of a false alert through the public alert and warning system2 7#c7 the standardization1 functionality1 and interoperability of incident management and warning tools used by ,state1 ,tribal1 and local governments to notify the public of an emergency through the public alert and warning system2 7#d7 the annual training and recertification of emergency management personnel on requirements for originating and transmitting an alert through the public alert and warning system2 7#e7 the procedures1 protocols1 and guidance concerning the protective action plans that ,state1 ,tribal1 and local governments should issue to the public following an alert issued under the public alert and warning system2 7#f7 the procedures1 protocols1 and guidance concerning the communications that ,state1 ,tribal1 and local governments should issue to the public following a false alert issued under the public alert and warning system2 7#g7 a plan by which ,state1 ,tribal1 and local government officials may1 during an emergency1 contact each other as well as ,federal officials and participants in the ,emergency ,alert ,system and the ,wireless ,emergency ,alert ,system1 when appropriate and necessary1 by telephone1 text message1 or other means of communication regarding an alert that has been distributed to the public2 and 7#h7 any other procedure the ,administrator considers appropriate for maintaining the integrity of and providing for public confidence in the public alert and warning system4 7b7 ,coordination with ,national ,advisory ,council report ,the ,administrator shall ensure that the guidance developed under subsection 7a7 do not conflict with recommendations made for improving the public alert and warning system provided in the report submitted by the ,national ,advisory ,council under section #b7;b77#g77;,b7 of the ,integrated ,public ,alert and ,warning ,system ,modernization ,act of #bjae 7,public ,law #aad-adc2 #acj ,stat4 #ccb74 7c7 ,public consultation ,in developing the guidance under subsection 7a71 the ,administrator shall ensure appropriate public consultation and1 to the extent practicable1 coordinate the development of the guidance with stakeholders of the public alert and warning system1 including-- 7#a7 appropriate personnel from ,federal agencies1 including the ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology1 the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency1 and the ,commission2 7#b7 representatives of ,state and local governments and emergency services personnel1 who shall be selected from among individuals nominated by national organizations representing those governments and personnel2 7#c7 representatives of federally recognized ,indian ,tribes and national ,indian organizations2 7#d7 communications service providers2 7#e7 vendors1 developers1 and manufacturers of systems1 facilities1 equipment1 and capabilities for the provision of communications services2 7#f7 third-party service bureaus2 7#g7 the national organization representing the licensees and permittees of noncommercial broadcast television stations2 7#h7 technical experts from the broadcasting industry2 7#i7 educators from the ,emergency ,management ,institute2 and 7#aj7 other individuals with technical expertise as the ,administrator determines appropriate4 7d7 ,inapplicability of ,,faca ,the ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app47 shall not apply to the public consultation with stakeholders under subsection 7c74 7e7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in subsection 7a7 shall be construed to amend1 supplement1 or abridge the authority of the ,commission under the ,communications ,act of #aicd 7#dg ,u4,s4,c4 #aea et seq47 or in any other manner give the ,administrator authority over communications service providers participating in the ,emergency ,alert ,system or the ,wireless ,emergency ,alert ,system4 #f4 ,false alert reporting ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,commission1 in consultation with the ,administrator1 shall complete a rulemaking proceeding to establish a system to receive from the ,administrator or ,state1 ,tribal1 or local governments reports of false alerts under the ,emergency ,alert ,system or the ,wireless ,emergency ,alert ,system for the purpose of recording such false alerts and examining their causes4 #g4 ,repeating ,emergency ,alert ,system messages for national security ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,commission1 in consultation with the ,administrator1 shall complete a rulemaking proceeding to modify the ,emergency ,alert ,system to provide for repeating ,emergency ,alert ,system messages while an alert remains pending that is issued by-- 7#a7 the ,president2 7#b7 the ,administrator2 or 7#c7 any other entity under specified circumstances as determined by the ,commission1 in consultation with the ,administrator4 #h4 ,internet and online streaming services emergency alert examination 7a7 ,study ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and after providing public notice and opportunity for comment1 the ,commission shall complete an inquiry to examine the feasibility of updating the ,emergency ,alert ,system to enable or improve alerts to consumers provided through the internet1 including through streaming services4 7b7 ,report ,not later than #ij days after completing the inquiry under subsection 7a71 the ,commission shall submit a report on the findings and conclusions of the inquiry to-- 7#a7 the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate2 and 7#b7 the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives4