Amy Sebring: On behalf of Avagene and myself, welcome to the EIIP Virtual Forum! Our topic today is the assessment of the Emergency Alert System that is being prepared under the auspices of the Partnership for Public Warning. Amy Sebring: The PPW is seeking public comment on the draft report which is available for download and review from http://www.partnershipforpublicwarning.org/ppw/eas.html . Amy Sebring: First, for the benefit of any first-timers, we will go over the order of business. We will begin today's session with a presentation, and then we will proceed to your questions. Amy Sebring: We will provide further instructions just before we begin the Q&A section, but you may wish to jot down your questions or comments as we go along. Amy Sebring: Please do not send private messages to our speakers or the moderator, as we will be busy with the presentation. If you need assistance, you may send a private message to Avagene Moore. Amy Sebring: The transcript of today's session will be available by this evening -- just check back on our home page. Amy Sebring: Now, I am pleased to introduce today's speakers. First, we welcome back Ken Allen, Executive Director of the PPW. Ken is an accomplished executive and leader with experience as president and chief executive officer, government relations expert and lobbyist, Amy Sebring: ...newspaper publisher, senior government official and management consultant. Before joining PPW Mr. Allen was a consultant assisting non-profit organizations improve their management and operations, grow their markets and communicate their message. Amy Sebring: We are also pleased to have with us PPW Board Member and subject matter expert, Frank Lucia. Frank retired from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in January 2001, after serving 36 years. For 24 years he was involved in the EBS and EAS. Amy Sebring: He assisted in the five year development of the EAS including the field testing of alerting systems, development of the Commission's EAS proceedings, and the authorship of 47 C.F.R. Part 11, Emergency Alert System. Amy Sebring: He received several awards from both government and industry for his achievements. For further biographical details, please see the background page. Amy Sebring: Welcome to both of you gentlemen, we are very pleased to have you with us today. Ken, I now turn the floor over to you to start us off please. Ken Allen: Thanks Amy, and we are happy to be back again. For those who have not been in one of our PPW forums before, let me introduce our organization ... Ken Allen: The Partnership for Public Warning is a unique, not-for-profit, public-private partnership dedicated to improving the nation's alert and warning capabilities. PPW's partners include the private sector, local, state and federal government agencies, non-profit organizations and academic experts. Ken Allen: The PPW vision is that "every person will have the information needed in an emergency to save lives, prevent injury, mitigate property loss, and minimize the time needed to return to a normal life." PPW is working to achieve this vision by providing an objective, consensus-based forum where all interested stakeholders - both public and private - are working together ... Ken Allen: to develop processes, standards, systems and strategies to ensure that the right people have the right information at the right time. Ken Allen: Membership in the Partnership for Public Warning is open to any organization or individual who is interested in public alert and warning and shares our vision. Ken Allen: Earlier this year the Partnership issued its "National Strategy for Integrated Public Warning Policy and Capability." Developed with the assistance of experts from both the public and private sectors ... Ken Allen: this document identifies the challenges associated with mproving the nation's alert and warning capabilities --- and sets forth a road map for creating an effective national alert and warning system. Ken Allen: A key element in the national strategy is the need to look at the nation's existing capabilities and build upon those legacy systems in creating a more effective national system. Ken Allen: The Emergency Alert System is one of America's two major alert and warning systems. The other is, of course, NOAA Weather Radio... Ken Allen: In early 2002 the Partnership undertook to develop an assessment of the Emergency Alert System. The purpose of this assessment is to identify the current state of EAS, highlight key issues and problems, and provide recommendations regarding the future of EAS. Ken Allen: A working group of EAS experts was put together to develop this assessment. I am pleased to note that this working group has been chaired by Frank Lucia. Ken Allen: With over 30 years of experience at the FCC, Frank is nationally recognized as an expert on EAS... Ken Allen: A draft of the final report has now been released for public comment. I will turn it over to Frank now to provide some further information about the draft report as it stands now. Frank Lucia: Thanks Ken. For background, I would first like to review the purpose of the EAS. The Emergency Alert System is one of two national systems that exist in the United States to provide alert and warning information directly to the public. Ken Allen: Frank, it's all yours. Frank Lucia: The other system is the Weather Radio System operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Another complimentary system is the National Warning System (NAWAS) funded by FEMA. Frank Lucia: Established in 1994, as successor to the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS), the EAS is our primary national warning system. It has two functions; Frank Lucia: (1) it provides a method for the President to address the nation during dire national crises and, (2) when not in use by the President, state and local officials can use it to issue short warning messages of imminent or ongoing hazards through broadcast stations and cable systems in specific regions. Frank Lucia: Through the first 40 years of the system, the broadcast industry was the industry that worked with the government in operating the system. Frank Lucia: In the late 1990's, the cable industry became a working partner. All broadcast stations and cable systems are required to install, maintain and test FCC certified EAS equipment. Frank Lucia: The report contains a very detailed history of EAS beginning with CONELRAD in the 1950s. It describes the various development stages the system went through including implementation and replacement of the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS). Frank Lucia: It also focuses on changes made to the system by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC adopted several regulations that affected system operations. Frank Lucia: Other parts of the report deal with; (1) how the system is funded, or not funded, (2) concerns about the system, (3) how the system works at the national, state and local levels, (4) interaction with the National Weather Service's NOAA Weather Radio, (5) implementing AMBER alerts and, (6) other government programs that affect the system. Frank Lucia: Originally the first drafts of the report contained recommendations on how to improve EAS. But because these were highly charged topics... Frank Lucia: the committee decided to not include recommendations in the draftt. The Frank Lucia: In early 2003, after the report was nearly complete, it was decided to bring in other members of the EAS community to determine their impressions of the report and whether any areas were missing from the report. Frank Lucia: The committee membership was expanded to about 20 members who are involved in EAS or had interest in the work. They included State EAS chairs, emergency managers, and a representative from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, EAS equipment manufacturers, etc. Frank Lucia: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), now a part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the federal agency responsible for funding the national level EAS. Frank Lucia: The FCC is the regulatory agency responsible enforcing the regulations that affect EAS operations. NWS is a third partner that uses EAS as a means to disseminate weather warnings to the public. Frank Lucia: These three agencies all have a role in supporting EAS, but no one agency has overall responsibility for the system. This is one of the areas of concern highlighted in the report. Frank Lucia: Government leadership and support has diminished. No one government agency is in charge of the system. Areas of concern include outdated EAS plans, missing communication links, and lack of training and equipment for emergency managers. Frank Lucia: In addition, the system of primary entry points (PEP) cannot be monitored reliably by all of the entry points for the state level EAS networks. Also, the major networks, national cable program suppliers and other national networks are not part of the national level EAS. Frank Lucia: EAS distribution methods have perhaps the greatest potential for security concerns. The system as it exists today uses a wide variety of distribution links arranged in an uncoordinated and sometimes-complex architecture that is specified in State and local EAS plans. Frank Lucia: There is a concern about physical security and unauthorized use of the system at EAS activation sites. Thousands of station operators have been trained in the use of the encoders ... Frank Lucia: ranging from part time interns to chief engineers. Most operators have been taught to use the equipment without any form of background investigation. Frank Lucia: Finally, there is no concerted government/industry effort that combines EAS and other alerting techniques with existing and new technologies to form a combined warning system. In addition to radio, television and cable, people now have wired and wireless Internet, cell phones, pagers, etc. Frank Lucia: The EAS system is now being asked to play a significant role in our national warning strategy. Lack of federal coordination, as well as a source of assured funding ... Frank Lucia: at any level necessary to allow for a reasonable level of control and scrutiny over a critical unmanaged and voluntary system contribute to valid security issues and concerns. Frank Lucia: We hope you will read the full draft report, and send us your comments and recommendations. I will now turn it back over to Ken for the particulars. Ken Allen: Thanks Frank. Just a final word about how you can participate in this process ... Ken Allen: Comments are due to PPW by September 5, 2003. Comments may be provided to PPW using the email forum on the PPW web site or by sending the comments to information@ppw.us. Ken Allen: PPW is especially interested in public comments regarding the recommendations that should be made about the future of EAS, as Frank mentioned. Ken Allen: Copies of the PPW national strategy and the EAS assessment may be downloaded from the PPW web site at http://www.PartnershipforPublicWarning.org. Ken Allen: Additional information on PPW can be obtained by contacting PPW at Partnership for Public Warning, 7515 Colshire Drive, MS N655, McLean, VA 22102. Phone: (703) 883-2745. Fax: (703) 883-3689. Email: information@ppw.us Ken Allen: We will now be happy to respond to your questions, and we would also like to hear about your local or state experience with the system. Ken Allen: With that, I will turn it back to our Moderator to get us started. Amy Sebring: Thank you very much Ken and Frank. Our protocol for audience questions is to enter a question mark ? to indicate you wish to ask a question or make a comment... Amy Sebring: Then go ahead and compose your question or comment to have it ready, but do NOT hit your Enter key or click on the Send button until you are recognized by name. Please WAIT your turn. Steven Williams: ? Burt Wallrich: ? Amy Sebring: We will take questions in the order the question marks are sent to the screen. One question at at time please. If you have a follow up, please get back on line with a ? Ed Kostiuk: ? Amy Sebring: Please try to direct your question to either Ken or Frank if you can. We are ready to begin now. Frank Lucia: We have some big storms here - hope I stay on. Amy Sebring: Ok, Frank. Steven, when you are ready please go ahead. Greg MacDonald: ? Steven Williams: Gentlemen, I am in an area that uses EAS as our primary public notification system and I can say that it works well. ... Steven Williams: ... the relationship between the broadcasters and the locals is critical... Steven Williams: ... without the broadcasters active participation the system will be a bust. Amy Sebring: Comment on Steve's comment Ken or Frank? Steven Williams: We understand our braodcasters concerns regarding lost air time and incorrect use of the system but... Amy Sebring: (oops sorry) Frank Lucia: I agree regular participation is a must. Amy Sebring: (please finish your thought Steven) Steven Williams: ... we try to work together to solve our differences and learn from our mistakes. Are there any other regions that are having good luck with EAS/ Don Heppelmann: ? Ken or Frank Frank Lucia: Yes. California has saved 44 children through AMBER/EAS. Amy Sebring: Great, let's go onto Burt please ... Burt Wallrich: Frank, I'm sure you're familiar with the 2-1-1 dialing code from your time with the FCC. After 9/11 there were several assessments that said where 2-1-1 existed it was effective in getting out information and reassurance, and it should be implemented universally as part of anti-terrorism measures. Is 2-1-1 included in the PPW draft report? (I would know the answer if I had reviewed the report. Sorry.) Amy Sebring: also from California. Steve Winters: ? Ben Green: Hello, I am the Program Coordinator for California's EAS & the SECC Exec Secretary. Yes, we have had goo luck with EAS. It is because of good coordination between all stakeholders. Frank Lucia: It is not discussued other than as another type of system to use in the warning area. Amy Sebring: Thanks Ben. We are taking questions and comments in sequence please ... Amy Sebring: Ed K. is next please. Ed Kostiuk: As the State's EM in Health, I run across Rural communities that have an EAS system dated 1950/60....what time frame do you see this draft being implemented by? What can I tell these Rural EM WE are doing for them and how long it might take? (Ken or Frank) Amy Sebring: Ken, will you take a stab at that please? Ken Allen: Yes.... Frank Lucia: EAS involves new equipment mandated in 1997. So new procedures are needed. Ken Allen: There are two issues involved here... Ken Allen: the first is to find someone to take responsibility for EAS... Ken Allen: We are working with several federal agencies, FCC, DHS, NOAA, etc. and believe that there is a good chance to find that leader in the near future... Ken Allen: Assuming we can achieve that goal, we believe it is possible to see significant improvements in EAS -- and the entire national alert and warning capability... Ken Allen: in 24 to 36 months. Amy Sebring: Thanks Ken. Greg M is next please. Greg MacDonald: HAve you considered simply starting with a fresh slate rather than continually trying to cobble the existing system back together? Amy Sebring: Frank would you like to tackle that? Frank Lucia: The trouble is that the broadcasters ... Janet Buchwald: ? Frank Lucia: and cable operators have a lot invested in EAS equipment .. Frank Lucia: It would be c=very difficult to get them to buy, install, etc. a new system. Amy Sebring: Don is next please. Don Heppelmann: Hi All, I am the Minnesota SECC Co-Chair. I read the report and it sums EAS up good. Thanks to PPW for it. When can we expect to read about the committee upgrade recommendations? Amy Sebring: Ken? Ken Allen: Frank's working group is now working on recommendations... Greg MacDonald: ? Ken Allen: and we are awaiting public comment on recommendations... Ken Allen: the goal is for the PPW board of trustees to review the report in late September... Ken Allen: So the current plan is to have the final report -- with recommendations -- available in October. Amy Sebring: Steve Winters is next please. Don Heppelmann: Thanks Steve Winters: In the recent blackout text messaging stayed up and worked the entire time, even when voice calls could not get through. What consideration has been given to using some form of cell phone messaging? Christopher Effgen: ? Amy Sebring: Frank? Steven Williams: ? Frank Lucia: The cell phone industry can .. Frank Lucia: voluntarily participate in EAS or in any other way. It is up to them. Amy Sebring: Janet is next please. Ken Allen: But this is where we need leadership.. Janet Buchwald: I am asking the same question as Greg - Have you considered taking a fresh slate? EAS is 40+ years old. Lifestyles have changed considerably. Most people are not sitting in front of a TV or radio station when a terrible catastrophe happens. They turn to broadcast after the event has occurred. In other words, most people are extremely mobile today. Technology today has unveiled multiple (and sophisticated) warning systems that are not broadcast oriented. And technology is changing so rapidly that Ken Allen: to bring the players together to build a national capability using all available technologies. Ken Allen: To keep or toss EAS is the big question... Ken Allen: However, you don't want to discard it until you have something else in place... Ken Allen: PPW has developed a national strategy to create that new capability, but it willl take some time to implement... Jenny Holt: ? Ken Allen: In the meantime, we need to use the systems we have to warn people... Frank Lucia: The bottom line is to try to use what you now have. Ken Allen: I expect that we will see an evolution to an entirely new capability ove rthe coming years. Amy Sebring: Greg M. next please. Greg MacDonald: The problem from our perspective is not getting the message out from the broadcasters, its getting the emergency message TO the broadcasters. Why shouldn't this be the responsibility of the government rather than the broadcasters. Amy Sebring: Frank do you want to try this one please? Frank Lucia: Good question. Broadcasters should not be warning message originators .. Frank Lucia: It is up to local officials to work with industry so that THEIR messages are re-transmitted by industry. Amy Sebring: Christopher is next please. Christopher Effgen: Have any risk/threat management studies been performed to show what kind of savings might accrue if the system that you envision was operational? Ken Allen: Not that I am aware of... Ken Allen: But you have to understand, until the past year, few in Washington DC were paying any attention to EAS or any alert and warning issues. Frank Lucia: Any new syystem will cost plus training, etc. Amy Sebring: Steven Williams next please. Steven Williams: Gents, with the work that Art Bottrell (et al) have done with the CAP, is EAS currently flexible enough to utilize future technologies? Frank Lucia: CAP can easily interface with EAS as long as equipment/software are in place. Amy Sebring: Jenny next please. Jenny Holt: To what sort of future alert system are you referring--and what kind of capabilities will it have? Correct me if I am wrong, but telecom companies wouldn't have to be vital participants if the correct technology were in place to access the telecom user. Frank Lucia: The same is true of NOAA Weather Radio. Ken Allen: Art is working on a proposal to develop an EAS relay network using CAP. Amy Sebring: Frank, can you speak to Jenny's question? Frank Lucia: There is no be all and end all .. Steve Winters: ? Frank Lucia: Warning needs to have the existing systems work as one along with the integration .. Frank Lucia: Internet, Cell Phones, broadcast/cable, Gilbert Gibbs: ? Amy Sebring: Steve next please. Don Heppelmann: ? Steve Winters: This is not meant to be a commercial, but we own a cell phone messaging system, AlertAmericaOnline, that has been up and running for two years. Where do I go to offer our services free Nationwide. I just want to see a system in place that works until we have something better. Amy Sebring: Ken, any suggestions for Steve? Mark Wood: ? Ken Allen: There is a lot more to warning than just picking one technology... Frank Lucia: You can start locally in an area to demstrate your technology. DHS is overwhelmed with offers. Ken Allen: but we appreciate the offer. At a minimum, I suggest you get involved with the Partnership for Public Warning. Amy Sebring: Gil next please. Gilbert Gibbs: As near as I can tell, all the integration for "public alerts" needs to be developed, and that's a lot of time to beg for. Technology won't stand still for mico-management. Steve Winters: Thank you Amy Sebring: Sounds like a good point to me, Gil. Gentlemen, any comment? Frank Lucia: We have to work with the devices/systems consumers use. Greg Ek-Collins: ? Greg MacDonald: ? Amy Sebring: Don next please. Amy Sebring: We are trying to get all your questions in as we need to end on time today. Amy Sebring: Lost Don ... Don Heppelmann: Is there any movement to get DirecTV and Dish DBS providers to provide a national (local?) level EAS? Amy Sebring: ok, good. Frank Lucia: They can voluntarily participate in EAS but none have. Amy Sebring: Mark Woods from England next please. Mark Wood: i am workking on the cell alert cell broadcast programme right now, it has mass messaging capability. However it does have the disadvantage that it can only reach people who have cell phones, so we still need all the methods we can get. Frank Lucia: The are no FCC regulations on them. Frank Lucia: Same for cell phones. Ken Allen: You're absolutely right. Amy Sebring: Thanks Mark. We are definitely talking a bag of tools... Amy Sebring: Greg E. next please. Greg Ek-Collins: Good afternoon, we are in Orange County Florida and are using three different methods right now to get the word to our citizens EAS, NWS and a reverse calling system it can be time consuming to get them all activated but is better than what we used to have in place... Is there anything new on the horizon that may integarte these technologies? Jenny Holt: ? Frank Lucia: CAP may be able to. Amy Sebring: Yes, for those of you who missed CAP ... Frank Lucia: NWS must get funds, etc. Amy Sebring: this is the Common Alerting Protocol ... Frank Lucia: yes Amy Sebring: and we have a previous session transcript in our archives ... Amy Sebring: these go hand in hand, right Ken? Ken Allen: Right. Amy Sebring: Ok, Greg M next please. Greg Ek-Collins: good point... thank you Ken Allen: You can get more on CAP from the PPW web site. Greg MacDonald: Have you looked into any systems like EMNet? What is your opinion of it? Pennsylvania has, I understand, used it extensively with little trouble. Amy Sebring: Greg, can you tell us the basic technology for those who do not know the name? Frank Lucia: EMnet is another way to interface with EAS. It uses satellie as the distribution syste. Greg MacDonald: satellite delivery to a terminal with land and internet backup Ken Allen: There are a number of excellent systems out there.... Ken Allen: PPW doesn't endores specific technolgies, but one of our goals is to.... Frank Lucia: There is an initial cost for Enet plus monthly charges. Ken Allen: collect data on all existing technologies so comparative analsyes can be made. Amy Sebring: Jenny next please. Amy Sebring: ? Jenny Holt: What steps has PPW taken to integrate private industry into public sector solutions, since through their research and development, companies have most of the tech answers to alert notification issues Ken Allen: PPW's major goal is to bring together the public and private sectors... Ken Allen: We have made tremendous progress in that regard. Experts from both the private sector and government... Ken Allen: have participated in the EAS assessment and the national strategy. The biggest challenge,.. Ken Allen: has been getting some of the key federal agencies (such as DHS) to recognize that there is value in a public-private partnership. Amy Sebring: My question has to do with the current flap at the FCC with the consolidation controversy. I am thinking this issue may have a bearing on EAS implementation as more local stations are taken over by national owners. Do you see any implications Frank? Jenny Holt: yes Frank Lucia: Big onership has advantages and dis .. Frank Lucia: advantages. Clear Channel, Infinity, etc. are all upgarding their EAS equipment. Frank Lucia: Small stations may not have those resources. Amy Sebring: We need to wrap up as Ken has to leave ... Amy Sebring: Thank you very much Ken and Frank. Please stand by a moment while we make some quick announcements .... Amy Sebring: If you are not currently on our mailing list, and would like to get program announcements and notices of transcript availability, please see the Subscribe link on our home page. Amy Sebring: Again, the transcript will be posted later this afternoon and you will be able to access it from our home page. Amy Sebring: We encourage you to participate in this process ... Amy Sebring: If your organization is interested in becoming an EIIP Partner, please see the Partnership link on our home page. Amy Sebring: Thanks to everyone for participating today. Our session is adjourned but before you go, please help me show our appreciation to our speakers for a fine job.