WASHINGTON, D.C. — Bipartisan legislation that updates how Americans receive emergency alerts through wireless and broadcast emergency alert systems has been approved by the House of Representatives.
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The Reliable Emergency Alert Distribution Improvement (READI) Act of 2020 (H.R. 6096), introduced by House Members Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.), Pete Olson (R-Tex.), Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.), and Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), was one of three communications and technology bills that were “reported favorably” from the Energy and Commerce Committee, gaining passage by the full House.
Rep. McNerney introduced the bill on March 5, just as the nation was starting to experience the first wave of COVID-19 cases, leading to shelter-in-place restrictions across most of the U.S. within the next two weeks.
The bill includes emergency alerts from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a type of alert that mobile subscribers may not block from their devices. Currently, only alerts from the president may not be blocked.
The bill also directs the FCC to adopt regulations to facilitate coordination with State Emergency Communications Committees in developing and modernizing State Emergency Alert System plans. Lastly, the READI Act directs the FCC to examine the feasibility of modernizing the Emergency Alert System by expanding alert distribution to the internet and streaming services.
The bill passed on the House Floor by voice vote.
