WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 16, 2022 – The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security today recommended $40 million to upgrade and modernize public broadcasting’s Next Generation Warning System infrastructure through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the Fiscal Year 2023 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.
The measure now goes to the full House Appropriations Committee for consideration next week.
“Public safety and civil defense have become increasingly important missions for public television,” said Patrick Butler, president and CEO of America’s Public Television Stations. “Public broadcasting stations reach 99% of the American population, and are the only local media in many communities, making our work in alert and warning critical to the safety of people and communities throughout the country.
“Public television’s digital infrastructure currently provides the backbone for emergency alert, public safety, first responder, and homeland security services in many States and communities, including many local stations that serve as their States’ primary Emergency Alert Service (EAS) hub for severe weather and AMBER alerts.
“In addition, public television has partnered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system that enables cell subscribers to receive geo-targeted text messages in the event of an emergency — reaching them wherever they are in times of crisis, even if the internet is disrupted. Between March of 2020 and January of 2022, over 13,000 WEAs were sent to millions of mobile devices using the WEA system. More than 600 of these included COVID-19 alerts.
“This program will help ensure that public broadcasting stations’ infrastructure is modern and reliable so that stations can continue to play an essential role in civil defense and homeland security while also enhancing their ability to provide alert, warning and interoperable communications and incorporate emerging technology in those life-saving activities,” Butler said.
“Public television stations have worked with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to demonstrate the effectiveness of our public safety communications capability in flood control and evacuation, school shooting scenarios, large crowd management, over-water emergency communications and other life-saving applications.
“Public television stations have also partnered with the California Office of Emergency Services to reduce the early earthquake warning standard from 30 seconds to less than 3 seconds. We’ve built a Statewide Emergency Communications Network with the State of Tennessee, public media stations in Florida created an emergency network that delivers up-to-the minute weather and news reports during severe weather events in Florida and South Carolina, and we’ve pursued many other alert and warning initiatives across America.
“This funding will make it possible to do more of this work, more effectively, in more places, helping save more lives and property in emergency situations.
“We are most grateful to the bipartisan leadership of Subcommittee Chair Roybal-Allard and Ranking Member Fleischmann, and the full membership of the subcommittee, for the critical support they have provided for the work of local public television stations to do our part to keep America safe,” Butler said.
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About APTS
America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) is a nonprofit membership organization ensuring a strong and financially sound public television system and helping member stations provide essential public services in education, public safety and civic leadership to the American people. For more information, visit www.apts.org.
Contact:
Stacey Karp
202-654-4222
skarp@apts.org