STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN AJIT PAI Re: Amendment of Part 11 of the Commission’s Rules Regarding Emergency Alert System, PS Docket No. 15-94. We typically give thanks and celebrate with family and friends during the holidays. But for Maritza, Justin, Jaden, and Angelina Ramos, Sindy Gonzalez, Pei Xia Chen, Wei Tang Liu, and Xiu Yan Li, every Christmas over the past three years has been one more reminder of the loss they suffered on December 20, 2014. For it was on that day—less than one week before Christmas—that Detectives Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu of the New York Police Department were senselessly gunned down while on duty. They were doing what they loved to do and were proud to do: protecting the citizens of New York City. Their dedication exemplifies what it means to be a public servant: to improve their communities and the lives of others, despite the inherent dangers. Detective Ramos, a dedicated Mets fan who had a taste for ham-and-cheese sandwiches, once told a fellow church member that he wanted to “bring something more to the uniform.” Detective Ramos was scheduled to graduate from the New York State Chaplain’s Task Force the day after he lost his life. For his part, when Detective Liu was once asked why he wanted to be a police officer, he replied, “I know that being a cop is dangerous, but I must do it. If I don’t do it . . . then who is going to do it?” Detectives Ramos and Liu made the ultimate sacrifice. We owe them and their brave family members who have come here today a tremendous debt of gratitude. We cannot begin to fathom your pain. But we can honor your sacrifice. And the FCC attempts to do that today by adopting rules so that police officers across America, and the communities they so proudly serve, will be better protected. Specifically, we are creating a dedicated Blue Alert event code in the Emergency Alert System. Similar to the Amber Alerts that many are familiar with, Blue Alerts will enable authorities to warn the public when there is actionable information related to a law enforcement officer who is missing, seriously injured or killed in the line of duty, or when there is an imminent credible threat to an officer. These warnings can be sent to the public through broadcast, cable, satellite, and wireline video providers. Officials may also send Blue Alerts through the Wireless Emergency Alert system to consumers’ wireless phones. We aim to promote compatible and integrated Blue Alert plans throughout the United States, consistent with the Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National Blue Alert Act of 2015. 1 Six months ago, I made a promise to adopt these rules, and I am pleased that my fellow Commissioners and I make good on that promise today. Obviously, what we do here doesn’t change what happened that sad afternoon in New York. But it does respect these officers’ spirit and courage. I want to thank William Johnson, Executive Director of the National Association of Police Organizations for his advocacy and support for Blue Alerts, and especially Pei Xia Chen, Wei Tang Liu, and Maritza Ramos for their moving testimony today. I also want to acknowledge the unwavering support from members of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services who have joined us this morning: Acting Director and National Blue Alert Coordinator Russell Washington, Deputy National Blue Alert Coordinator Vince Davenport, Senior Counsel to the Director Shanetta Cutlar, and Blue Alert Team Leader Tracie Johnson Farrell. 1 34 U.S.C. § 50501 et. seq. I also want to extend a special thanks to Deputy Chief Thomas Burns, Commanding Officer of the NYPD Employee Relations Section, and his staff, Lieutenant Debra Lott, Sergeant Patrick Whalen, and Officer Frank Russo. Each of them plays a very important role in consoling grieving family members of fallen NYPD police officers. I also am grateful to Detective Jose Falero and Sergeant Johnny Yin from the NYPD for safely escorting our guests this morning from New York City. And last but not least, for their tireless efforts and dedication to keeping Americans safe, I want to thank the staff of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau: Rochelle Cohen, Greg Cooke, Lisa Fowlkes, Nicole McGinnis, Linda Pintro, Austin Randazzo, and James Wiley; and David Horowitz and Anjali Singh from the Office of General Counsel.