FCC report points to internet outages during emergency alert test

WASHINGTON, July 2, 2024 – A nationwide emergency alert test conducted by the Federal Communications Commission last fall found that a small percentage of alert system failures were due to various problems attributable to internet service providers and other internet network issues.

The report, released in June by the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, documented the ability of the Emergency Alert System to deliver public safety alerts to as many people as possible in the United States.

The EAS sends alerts to the public via radio and television. Wireless Emergency Alerts sends alerts to consumers’ cell phones. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is legally responsible for EAS activation, testing, and exercises at the national level.

Based on 18,334 participants, the test found that of 1,064 people who reported “receiving complications,” 65 were due to “internet problems.” Similarly, of 1,711 people who reported forwarding complications, 39 were due to internet problems. Internet problems caused 6.1% and 2.3% of all complications in the two categories mentioned in the report, respectively.

Participants in the October 4 EAS test cited Internet service provider outages, Internet service outages, Internet connection issues, and Internet firewall issues as the main reasons for complications.

In addition, the report found that two of the 72 National Public Warning System broadcast stations involved in the post-test evaluation experienced technical problems receiving and relaying alerts. These outages occurred due to internet problems. One station experienced an outage with its internet service provider, while the other reported “very slow” internet speeds.

On Monday, FCC Chairman Jessica Rosenworcel proposed rules to strengthen the emergency warning system against cyber threats.

The rules would require EAS providers to report device defects within 24 hours of discovery to help the agency “identify persistent technical problems in these devices,” the FCC said in a Press releaseThe rules would also require participants to have emergency plans in place to warn the public in the event of a disruption.

The proposal would also require providers to update their cybersecurity risk management plans.