READI Act

Bill: 116-s-2693
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Introduced: 2019-10-24 in the Senate
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. 

action_date: 2020-07-21
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. 

action_date: 2020-09-24
text: 

Reliable Emergency Alert Distribution Improvement Act of 2020 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). 
 
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: 2020-09-29
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2020-09-29
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2020-09-29
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2020-09-24
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S5881-5882)
action_date: 2020-09-24
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S5881-5882)
action_date: 2020-09-24
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S5881-5882)
action_date: 2020-07-21
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 492.
action_date: 2020-07-21
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker without amendment. With written report No. 116-240.
action_date: 2020-07-21
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker without amendment. With written report No. 116-240.
action_date: 2019-11-13
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2019-10-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2019-10-24
text: Introduced in Senate