The first ever national test of the Emergency Alert System went off, with hitches. Officials who were involved in the project have readily admitted as much, and said the test did just what it was supposed to do – put a spotlight what does and does not work. House Communications Subcommittee Chair Greg Walden (R-OR) will also be looking into it.
The purpose of the briefing is to allow parties involved with the test to discuss the results with members of Walden’s subcommittee and to discuss possible improvements. Both parties will be included in the briefing.
It is scheduled for Thursday 11/17/11.
Walden stated, “By many accounts, last week’s test had major problems. In my home state of Oregon, most—if not all—stations didn’t even receive the signal. Soon afterward, I contacted FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and FEMA to request a briefing for the subcommittee’s members on November 17. I look forward to hearing where the agencies can relay what worked, what didn’t, and where we can go from here to fix it.”
