PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
445 12
th
 St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
   DA 18-477
Released: May 9, 2018
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU ANNOUNCES AGENDA 
FOR EMERGENCY ALERTING ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION 
PS Docket Nos. 15-91 and 15-94
On April 10, 2018, the Federal Communications Commission’s Public Safety and Homeland 
Security Bureau (PSHSB) released a report on its investigation into the January 13, 2018, false ballistic 
missile alert that was sent throughout Hawaii using the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency 
Alerts.
1
  The report identified best practices to guard against false alerts and to mitigate the consequences 
of false alerts if they do occur.  In the report and in a companion Public Notice, PSHSB stated that it 
would host a public roundtable to encourage awareness of those best practices, share lessons learned, and 
promote a continued dialogue among stakeholders.
2
  This Public Notice announces the agenda and 
panelists for the May 15, 2018, roundtable discussion of emergency alerting best practices and to develop 
effective partnerships. 
1:00 p.m. Welcome and Overview
Lisa M. Fowlkes, Chief, PSHSB
1:05 p.m. Opening Remarks
Ajit V. Pai, Chairman, Federal Communications Commission 
1:15 p.m. Roundtable 1:  Benefits of Proficiency Training and Best Practices for Testing
The FCC will begin by providing an overview of the FCC rules governing the testing and 
delivery of Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA).  The 
session will then open a roundtable discussion of panelists’ experience and the benefits of 
emergency alerting proficiency training.  The panel will discuss lessons learned from the 
Hawaii false missile incident, including best practices for conducting proficiency training 
and testing.  The panel will also share information regarding proficiency training 
resources.
1
 See Report and Recommendations, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency January 13, 2018, False Alert 
(PSHSB rel. Apr. 10, 2018) https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-350119A1.pdf. 
2
 Id. at 25 para. 41.  See Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Emergency Alerting Roundtable 
Discussion, Public Notice, DA 18-352 (PSHSB rel. Apr. 10, 2018).
2Moderators: Gregory Cooke and John A. Evanoff, Deputy Chiefs, Policy and 
Licensing Division, PSHSB
Participants
? Dennis Bookey, Alaska State Emergency Communications Committee 
? Holly Crawford, San Diego County, CA, Office of Emergency Services 
? Nick Crossley, Hamilton County, Ohio, Emergency Management and Homeland 
Security Agency
? Ryan Hirae, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency
? Chris Leonard, Hawaii Association of Broadcasters 
? Henry “Hank” O’Neill, California Office of Emergency Services 
? C. Pat Roberts, Florida Association of Broadcasters
? Dr. Christopher Rodriguez, District of Columbia Homeland Security and 
Emergency Management Agency 
? Patrick Sheehan, Tennessee Emergency Management Agency
? Jody Smith, Federal Emergency Management Agency
2:45 p.m. Break
3:00 p.m. Roundtable 2:  Effective Coordination and Partnerships
This session will discuss how emergency alerting stakeholders – including federal, state, 
and local emergency managers, and communications providers – can form effective 
partnerships.
Moderators: Gregory Cooke and John A. Evanoff, Deputy Chiefs, Policy and 
Licensing Division, PSHSB
Participants
? John Davis, Sprint
? Mike Gerber, National Weather Service
? Courtney Harrington, Hawaii State Emergency Communications Committee
? Robert Morse, Verizon 
? Courtney Neville, Competitive Carriers Association
? Mark Reddish, APCO International 
? Howard Rosenblum, National Association of the Deaf
? Justin Sasso, Colorado Broadcasters Association 
? Andy Scott, NCTA – The Internet and Television Association
? Russell J. Strickland, Maryland Emergency Management Agency
? Wade Witmer, Federal Emergency Management Agency
4:30 p.m. Concluding Remarks and Adjournment
Nicole McGinnis, Deputy Chief, PSHSB
The meeting is open to the public, but admittance will be limited to seating availability.  
Audio/video coverage of the meeting will be broadcast live with open captioning over the Internet from 
3the FCC's web page at www.fcc.gov/live.  The FCC’s webcast is free to the public. Audience members in 
attendance will have an opportunity to ask questions of the participants directly, and audience members 
participating via webcast may email event-related questions to emergencyalerting@fcc.gov.  Depending 
on the volume of questions and time constraints, the discussion moderators will work to respond to as 
many questions as possible during the workshop.  
In addition to open captioning, reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are 
available upon request. Include a description of the accommodation you will need and tell us how to 
contact you if we need more information. Make your request as early as possible. Last minute requests 
will be accepted, but may be impossible to fill. Send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & 
Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY).
For additional information about the roundtable discussion, please contact John A. Evanoff, 
Deputy Chief, Policy and Licensing Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau at (202) 418-
0848 or John.Evanoff@fcc.gov.
-FCC-