READI Act

Bill: 116-hr-4856
Sponsor: Rep. McNerney, Jerry [D-CA-9]
Introduced: 2019-10-24 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
Congressional oversight
Emergency communications systems
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Intergovernmental relations
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Public participation and lobbying
State and local government operations
Telephone and wireless communication

Summary:
action_date: 2019-10-24
text: 

Reliable Emergency Alert Distribution Improvement Act of 2019 or READI Act

 
This bill modifies how citizens receive emergency alerts through wireless and broadcast emergency alert systems.
 
Specifically, 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). FEMA must develop and issue guidance for how state, tribal, and local governments can participate in the integrated public alert and warning system. 
 
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must adopt regulations that encourage states to establish a State Emergency Communications Commission (SECC) and require each SECC to meet at least annually to review and update its Emergency Alert System Plan. The FCC must approve or disapprove the updated plan. 
 
 The FCC shall also (1) establish a system to receive from FEMA or state, tribal, or local governments reports of false alerts under the Emergency Alert System (EAS) or the Wireless EAS to record such false alerts and examine their causes; (2) modify the EAS to provide for repeating messages while an alert remains pending; and (3) examine the feasibility of updating the EAS to enable or improve alerts provided through the internet, including through audio and video streaming services. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-02-27
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2019-11-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery.
action_date: 2019-10-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
action_date: 2019-10-24
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2019-10-24
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2019-10-24
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2019-10-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-10-24
text: Introduced in House