WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 24, 2022 – The House Appropriations Committee today recommended $40 million for public broadcasting’s Next Generation Warning System within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the Fiscal Year 2023 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.
This funding would help support public broadcasting’s work in alert and warning and public safety communications.
The bill was reported to the full House, which is scheduled to consider the measure in July.
“America’s Public Television Stations are most grateful that the House Appropriations Committee has recommended an appropriation of $40 million for public broadcasting’s Next Generation Warning System for Fiscal Year 2023,” said Patrick Butler, president and CEO of America’s Public Television Stations.
“Public broadcasting has long been a committed partner with the public safety community, and this partnership depends on reliable and resilient public broadcasting infrastructure.
“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.
“Public television stations have worked with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to demonstrate the effectiveness of our lifesaving public safety communications capability in flood control and evacuation, school shooting scenarios, large crowd management, over-water emergency communications and other life-saving applications.
“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.
“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, utilizing both the reach and ubiquity of mobile device communications to address a large-scale pandemic.
“This essential funding for the Next Generation Warning System is critical to the civil defense of the country by helping stations replace aging infrastructure that will enhance public broadcasting stations’ ability to provide alert, warning and interoperable communications and incorporate emerging technology to meet the evolving nature in these lifesaving activities.
“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.
“We appreciate the bipartisan leadership of Chair DeLauro and Ranking Member Granger, and Subcommittee Chair Roybal-Allard and Ranking Member Fleischmann, and we are honored by the bipartisan support we receive from the full membership of the appropriations committee. We look forward to favorable House action on this legislation next month and Senate approval later this year.”
###
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