§1202 Commercial Mobile Service Alert Advisory Committee

Summary

The Federal Communications Commission chair must create an advisory group called the Commercial Mobile Service Alert Advisory Committee within 60 days after October 13, 2006 and must appoint its members as soon as possible after that date. Members must come from places like state and local governments and emergency responders, federally recognized Indian tribes, and technical experts such as wireless carriers, equipment vendors, broadcasters, noncommercial TV representatives, and groups for people with disabilities and the elderly, plus any other stakeholders the chair picks. The committee must give the FCC recommendations within one year after October 13, 2006. These recommendations must cover how mobile providers will get, check, and send alerts; rules for giving alerts priority; technical standards for devices and systems; the ability to send alerts in languages other than English where possible; allowing subscribers to opt out of alerts or classes of alerts (but not alerts issued by the President); a process for providers that cannot reach all devices or their whole service area; and any other needed items to make alerting work. The group must hold its first meeting within 60 days after October 13, 2006, meet when the chair calls meetings, give at least 14 days’ public notice for meetings, and keep meetings open to the public. One-third of members make a quorum. The chair may form subcommittees and set rules. The committee must consult the National Institute of Standards and Technology on technical standards, and certain federal advisory committee rules do not apply to it.