Ex Parte Addendum: FM Radio and RBDS-Based Emergency Alerting

The FM Radio and RBDS-Based Emergency Alerting research brief, and 2-page executive summary Save Lives, Withstand Catastrophe, and Stimulate the Marketplace, were submitted as Ex Parte comments replying to the FCC’s Hurricane Response Public Notice [PS Docket # 17-344].[1] The Public Notice sought input on the effectiveness of emergency communications technologies, procedures, and policies that were employed in response to hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Nate and “additional information relevant to the 2017 hurricane season’s impact on communications generally.^[2]”

Dr. Helena Mitchell presented the comments at an Ex Parte meeting at the FCC. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Office of the Chairman, the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, and the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau. Their comments and questions are addressed in this addendum to our original filing. Specifically, the addendum provides additional contextual information on the status of WEA, FM Radio and the industry response to the 2017 Hurricane Season; the distinction between FM Radio and RBDS; how RBDS is different from captioning; and international use of FM Radio and RBDS.