Federal Communications Commission FCC 15-154
STATEMENT OF
COMMISSIONER MICHAEL P. O'RIELLY
Re: Improving Wireless Emergency Alerts and Community-Initiated Alerting, PS Docket No. 15-91
Generally, I don’t have too many immediate issues with this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 
which is designed to improve the current Wireless Emergency Alerts.  In certain circumstances, these 
simple, timely notifications can be critical or even lifesaving to those who receive them.  On the other 
hand, too many notifications or ill-timed ones can promote consumer distrust and make the overall system 
less viable.  
Appropriately, the item initiates debate and asks questions on a couple of possible changes to the 
current mechanisms.  In doing so, we need to keep in mind that there is a delicate balance between the 
obligations asked of participating wireless providers and their willingness to remain part of the voluntary 
system.  It would be extremely counterproductive if any proposed changes led to a decrease in the number 
of participating wireless providers.  Our first priority should be to do no harm to a system that seems to be 
working reasonably well as is.  Could it work better?  Maybe.  Could the Commission screw it up through 
inappropriate tweaks or wholesale changes?  Definitely.          
I appreciate the Chairman and the staff for accommodating a number of my concerns with the text 
originally circulated.  There remains a couple of areas that are potentially troubling, such as the new 
testing regime and reporting requirements, mandatory opt-out options, and congestion-causing URLs and 
multimedia alerts.  I am hopeful that the comment process will sufficiently alleviate my concerns about
these ideas.  If not, we will have to dispense with them before I could support any final order in this 
matter.