[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_25":26},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_27":28,"_29":30},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[31,74,86],{"_32":33,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41,"_42":43,"_44":45,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":71,"_73":71},"mediaId",6474814,"mediaKeyId","5739641-6d8398b2fdc9114d5fde516eeb81f52c","parentId",5739641,"title","Public broadcasters and emergency networks warn rescinded grants put local alerting at risk","audioSeconds",322,"startMs",3055300,"endMs",3377775,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5739641-6d8398b2fdc9114d5fde516eeb81f52c&start=3055&end=3377","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5739641-6d8398b2fdc9114d5fde516eeb81f52c/thumbnail_3055300.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6474814/Public-broadcasters-and-emergency-networks-warn-rescinded-grants-put-local-alerting-at-risk","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6474814-7f50778945b8c2a7496c929f6cf595e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770127314&Signature=b8exSjvM-Dga9ps76~XscHKbBTuce8KrZsR2tHIe9WJsfOUQit98y3c8hG3HN6HpZs6pwY3t6zLvUILWTmFayFKxy0rIJlbfCPrls6K9SQuGH9~JHnNujoq729pP05ZQv2N6aks4QB5TLZvrzX3U7RJYXSxvh4Wzzf8YY6eSnotXSjUm276qEgkNgB80wnmJMwN0it10GTdC44st4ndJfz0Jyeese1uOySTS0HvyWvP1UbhdVWWV9JanF9Xu5fQaxduEp7JGNnSIl2N0WfSb9vkFbXGBcmQA1vlijqKiBYkKB8uEoo9cLki87By72DO-5xZj60jr0Eq3TytSLO3AoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce","date","2025-09-02T13:35:04Z","article","Public broadcasters and emergency managers told the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee that recent federal rescissions and grant uncertainty threaten local emergency alerting capacity, especially in rural and underserved areas.

Randall C. Wright, executive director of the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network (EFREN) and project lead for Beacon, described how public radio stations served as a ‘‘lifeline’’ during Florida and South Carolina disasters. ‘‘This public media technical infrastructure forms the backbone of our nation's alerting capabilities,’’ Wright said, citing examples in which broadcast coverage reached communities when cellular and Internet services failed.

Why it matters: Witnesses said public broadcast transmission systems and the PBS‑WARN infrastructure provide over‑the‑air redundancy and reach remote listeners during prolonged outages, powering emergency alerts when other networks are down. Several members and witnesses urged Congress and FEMA to restore or replace grant administration for the Next Generation Warning System (NGWS) so local stations can upgrade transmitters and equipment.

Testimony highlights: Wright described Beacon, an AI‑driven, 24‑hour alerting channel launched in Florida that rebroadcasts only official public‑safety alerts on public radio frequencies and online. He said Beacon and EFREN deliver alerts in multiple languages and were used before, during and after recent storms. He warned that the rescission of CPB funding had already forced some stations to postpone equipment upgrades, cut staff, or curtail transmitter operations.

Committee concerns and next steps: Members asked whether FEMA should assume administration of NGWS grants after the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s role ended; Wright said FEMA should. Several lawmakers also stressed that public broadcasters’ role in emergency alerting is complementary to NG9‑1‑1 and FirstNet and recommended restoring or reallocating existing federal funds to protect this ‘‘last mile’’ infrastructure.

Ending: Witnesses urged lawmakers to treat public broadcast transmission as an emergency‑communications asset and to ensure that any federal rescissions do not remove the funding needed to keep rural and underserved communities reachable in a disaster.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","C&T Subcommittee Hearing: Public Safety Communications in the United States","oneSentenceSummary","Public‑media and emergency‑alerting leaders testified that rescission of federal support for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting jeopardizes next generation warning grants and local broadcast infrastructure that serve as a resilient ‘‘last mile’’ during disasters.","taxTitle","Energy and Commerce: House Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1824,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_32":75,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":76,"_40":77,"_42":78,"_44":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":71,"_73":71},6474819,"Sheriffs, emergency managers urge Congress to extend FirstNet authority, prioritize resilience and cybersecurity",1513,2566974,4079974,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5739641-6d8398b2fdc9114d5fde516eeb81f52c&start=2566&end=4079","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5739641-6d8398b2fdc9114d5fde516eeb81f52c/thumbnail_2566974.jpg","/articles/6474819/Sheriffs-emergency-managers-urge-Congress-to-extend-FirstNet-authority-prioritize-resilience-and-cybersecurity","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6474819-106fb27a0e221ee1a7908c98f9933a67/orig.mp4?Expires=1770127314&Signature=JVnLfWt~vAE6NbA8vg0q3DpTZQVcmGRIcz~F-peQtCY49rKt2gxxG0mNEBzMda~suJWum9JXG6v70ySXjr~LB7wML6pQI6IEwlUZCtnc8k-9uTJ4WqPz4HfUWmLbwrnjOAQPK2fiv84-euUY7Ff9EjdjyMMhnus79avFl2UleZKHsUdiq2mEenkuzsxHIvK8U5cJd7zubhcDNTr0GVRYc8WpdK5LFEoNpaFGIBRnyEqzKg2Ohfj0JBMdZFJT3hVNV~7kvOzel16futtTb6CmOLsifNIk5GMsVw4meC6lja9bkPjJ~JgHdEhvl9Qm6NLkROmANSzX-K~eYISFAmYBCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Local law‑enforcement and emergency managers urged Congress to reauthorize the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) and strengthen requirements for coverage, redundancy and cybersecurity to protect public‑safety communications.

Sheriff Shannon Dicus of San Bernardino County told the subcommittee that FirstNet has delivered tangible benefits to her jurisdiction and that ‘‘the build out of FirstNet is critical’’ for providing dedicated priority broadband to first responders. She testified that California’s decision to opt in to FirstNet ‘‘brought five new FirstNet towers to our county’’ and described FirstNet’s dedicated core and Band 14 capacity as valuable public‑safety features.

Why it matters: Witnesses said FirstNet’s priority and preemption features help keep public‑safety data and voice calls flowing in crowded or degraded networks, and that physical and cybersecurity protections for tower sites and core networks are needed to defend against vandalism, sabotage and cyberattacks.

Key points: Steve Newton, emergency management director for Chatham County, said FirstNet and other carrier deployables helped restore connectivity after Hurricane Helene and stressed the value of diverse carrier options and planning at the state level. Newton described using FirstNet services during storm response to operate alerting systems when other infrastructure failed.

Sheriff Dicus urged lifting FirstNet’s sunset and noted a FirstNet commitment to reinvest program revenues: ‘‘To maintain that progress, Congress must extend FirstNet’s authorization beyond 2027,’’ she said. Several members and witnesses recommended that reauthorization include clearer metrics for recovery time objectives, oversight of the authority’s reinvestment of funds, and federal support for cybersecurity audits and physical protection of critical sites.

Cybersecurity and governance: Witnesses described ransomware incidents and other cyber threats that disrupted dispatch and records systems, arguing federal assistance on audits, standards and rapid technical assistance would reduce recovery times for counties. Dicus said stronger federal‑local coordination on cybersecurity best practices and insurance/response support is needed.

Ending: Members signaled bipartisan interest in FirstNet reauthorization but pressed for specific reforms to ensure rural coverage, interoperable operations across multiple carriers, and protections for towers and backhaul infrastructure.
","County and state emergency officials told a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee that reauthorizing and funding FirstNet is essential to keep public‑safety broadband resilient and secure, and recommended extending FirstNet's statutory authority beyond its 2027 sunset.",{"_32":87,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":88,"_40":89,"_42":90,"_44":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":71,"_73":71},6474824,"Experts urge Congress to fund nationwide Next Generation 911 rollout, warn delays raise costs and risks",816,2040659,2856740,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5739641-6d8398b2fdc9114d5fde516eeb81f52c&start=2040&end=2856","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5739641-6d8398b2fdc9114d5fde516eeb81f52c/thumbnail_2040659.jpg","/articles/6474824/Experts-urge-Congress-to-fund-nationwide-Next-Generation-911-rollout-warn-delays-raise-costs-and-risks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6474824-b9fb1f9db0842eb3521680921fee3fc2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770127314&Signature=CHO8C~VzhX2iUPWUNtPcVRtI06jGGlFAdNOIhqe7Yl1ADcBzp0Z7i-ARStJHgNbnUAoJSHPJ56Hvsuj7UQatbQU~F7ZU8oy2QMx1V57cgfJn74RNbo~o78hd5mmoBBPi4HbM~dBY7luPwtSsPApD15LyWbJFRXydJ3XFQ74ivKUYyd321kIEjQuUmFlHPhBR3YftsOGBBfUxcnzJIcmGETGmGqRSyG1bnWOms03y-ZEyFVadSEbhUAELetpHvpkXftAmqJRPKh4rHoU-2AgA2-0-FINzqEjVmcCnn9wVPq1AaFtrHqXBhmN789FHs7grvLSgUF1QYHaYqJ1gvwEXtA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Federal and local emergency communications officials told a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee that completing the nationwide deployment of Next Generation 9‑1‑1 (NG9‑1‑1) requires a sustained, dedicated funding stream and clearer federal guidance.

Dr. Brian Fontes, former chief executive officer of the National Emergency Number Association, told the committee NG9‑1‑1 “is a suite of standards based technologies that will fully modernize the 9‑1‑1 systems with information rich data, enhanced cybersecurity, redundancy, and resiliency.” He said much of the nation’s 9‑1‑1 infrastructure remains ‘‘voice centric’’ and therefore unable to receive texts, photos, video or other data that could help responders assess emergencies before they arrive.

Why it matters: NG9‑1‑1 will let call centers receive and transmit richer data — dispatchable location, photos, video and real‑time translations — which witnesses said can shorten response times and improve situational awareness. Many local public‑safety agencies, however, lack the funds to run legacy systems while paying transition costs for IP‑based NG9‑1‑1. Fontes cited prior federal cost studies showing a 2018 estimate in the range of $9 billion to $13 billion and said updated estimates could be roughly $15 billion in today’s dollars.

What witnesses said: Steve Newton, emergency management director for Chatham County, North Carolina, described operational benefits of emergency service IP networks used during recent disasters: ‘‘Because the calls are managed at a digital level on this ESInet … the network management center … is able to reprovision and turn those calls to another 9‑1‑1 center not impacted,’’ he testified, describing routing that kept calls answered after Hurricane Helene.

Multiple witnesses argued that asking for another long cost study would only delay deployment. Fontes said waiting for additional analysis could ‘‘turn out to be a delay’’ and urged Congress to create an accessible funding mechanism states and localities can use to phase and manage the transition.

Cybersecurity and governance: Witnesses emphasized that NG9‑1‑1 is not only a technology project but a governance challenge. Fontes and others urged funding that supports planning, deployment tranches (planning, deployment, completion) and the state and local governance structures that administer 9‑1‑1. Several witnesses also flagged cybersecurity as a crosscutting need, saying funding should include support for vulnerability assessments and ongoing maintenance.

Outlook: Committee members from both parties pressed for bipartisan solutions to fund NG9‑1‑1 and to avoid leaving smaller and rural PSAPs behind. Witnesses recommended a mix of federal funding, state matching and targeted grant programs to accelerate deployment while preserving legacy service during the transition.

Ending: Lawmakers pressed witnesses for options that can be implemented quickly; witnesses repeated that funding, paired with clear governance and cybersecurity standards, would be the most direct path to nationwide NG9‑1‑1.","Witnesses at a House Energy and Commerce hearing pressed lawmakers for sustained funding and clearer federal guidance to complete nationwide Next Generation 9‑1‑1 (NG9‑1‑1) deployment, saying many 9‑1‑1 centers still rely on century‑old, voice‑centric systems and that delays raise costs and public‑safety risk.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public broadcasters and emergency networks warn rescinded grants put local alerting at risk

Sheriffs, emergency managers urge Congress to extend FirstNet authority, prioritize resilience and cybersecurity

Experts urge Congress to fund nationwide Next Generation 911 rollout, warn delays raise costs and risks