Vermont broadcasters tell Senate committee they are central to emergency alerts; language-access fixes done administratively

Wendy Mays, executive director of the Vermont Association of Broadcasters, told the Senate Committee on Government Operations on Jan. 28 that Vermont’s over‑the‑air radio and television stations provide emergency alerting, local news, scholarships and community fundraising and that the association stands ready to help on policy questions.

Mays said the VAB represents about 100 broadcasters across the state and described the services stations provide during severe weather and other all‑hazard events, including rebroadcasting notices from civil authorities through the Emergency Alert System and ongoing reporting after an event to direct people to shelter, volunteer opportunities and aid.

The VAB’s role matters because many Vermonters rely on free, over‑the‑air broadcasting where cell service or broadband is unreliable. “If the power is out, you can still get these messages on your radio,” Mays said. She emphasized broadcasters’ local…