FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON, DC 20554 September 11, 2023 Charles D. Watson Senior Vice President of Network Operations Telepak Networks, Inc., d/b/a C-Spire 1018 Highland Colony Parkway, Suite 300 Ridgeland, MS 39157 Via Email: cwatson@cspire.com Chris Champion Vice President, Government Relations Telepak Networks, Inc., d/b/a C-Spire 1018 Highland Colony Parkway, Suite 300 Ridgeland, MS 39157 Via Email: cchampion@cspire.com Re: Nationwide Wireless Emergency Alert Testing Dear Messrs. Watson and Champion: Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) provide important and potentially life-saving information to the public in the event of a natural disaster or other critical situation. As a WEA participant, Telepak Networks, Inc., d/b/a C-Spire (C-Spire) plays a key role in the alerting process, which is vital for emergency managers to help keep the public safe. Thank you for your voluntary participation in this important program. The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) seeks C-Spire’s cooperation in evaluating WEA’s performance during the upcoming nationwide WEA test, which is scheduled for Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at 2:18 p.m. EDT, with an alternate date on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at the same time. The test will be conducted pursuant to the recently-granted waiver permitting Participating CMS Providers to participate in this test.1 PSHSB requests that C-Spire provide, in writing, responses to the following inquiries regarding the performance of C-Spire’s network during the test: 1. Did C-Spire receive the test message and transmit it to its subscribers? a. At what time (to the closest millisecond, if available) did C-Spire’s gateway/Cell Broadcast Entity receive the alert from FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS)? 1 Wireless Emergency Alerts; Amendments to Part 11 of the Commission’s Rules Regarding the Emergency Alert System, DA 23-654, https://www.fcc.gov/document/pshsb-grants-waiver-nationwide-wea-test, (PSHSB Aug. 3, 2023). b. At what time (to the closest millisecond, if available) did C-Spire transmit the alert to subscribers? 2. Did C-Spire experience any complications or anomalies with its WEA capability during the nationwide test? a. If so, please provide a detailed description of the complications or anomalies, including the extent to which the issue(s) delayed or prevented receipt of the test alert message. b. What area(s) were affected (e.g., town/city, county, state, region)? How many subscribers were affected? c. Describe any steps that C-Spire has taken or is taking to address any complications or anomalies identified above. 3. Describe any other efforts that C-Spire conducted to observe and evaluate WEA performance during the test, including any efforts to determine whether consumer handsets successfully displayed the alert. Please provide your responses, in writing, within two weeks of FEMA conducting its test, i.e., October 18, 2023, if FEMA conducts its test on October 4, 2023, and October 25, 2023, if FEMA conducts its test on October 11, 2023. The Bureau asks that C-Spire please respond via the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) in PS Dockets 15-91, and 15-94.2 Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing ECFS: http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/. If you have any questions, please contact David Kirschner, at David.Kirschner@fcc.gov. Thank you for your continued efforts to ensure that the public receives life-saving WEA messages. Sincerely, Debra Jordan Chief Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau cc: Nicole McGinnis, Deputy Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Austin Randazzo, Associate Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Rochelle Cohen, Communications Director, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Erika Olsen, Acting Chief, Cybersecurity and Communications Reliability Division 2 Parties wishing to file materials with a claim of confidentiality should follow the procedures set forth in Section 0.459 of the Commission’s rules. Casual claims of confidentiality are not accepted. Confidential submissions may not be filed via ECFS but rather should be filed with the Secretary’s Office following the procedures set forth in 47 CFR § 0.459. Redacted versions of confidential submissions may be filed via ECFS. Parties are advised that the FCC looks with disfavor on claims of confidentiality for entire documents. When a claim of confidentiality is made, a public, redacted version of the document should also be filed. See, Enforcement Bureau Reminds Public that Requests for Confidentiality Must Cover Oly Material Warranting Confidential Treatment Under the Commission’s Rules, Public Notice, DA 20-579 (June 18, 2020). James Wiley, Deputy Chief, Cybersecurity and Communications Reliability Division David Kirschner, Attorney Advisor, Cybersecurity and Communications Reliability Division