WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will convene a hearing titled, “This is Not a Drill: An Examination of Emergency Alert Systems,” at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018. The hearing will examine the policy concerns surrounding the use and effectiveness of Emergency Alert Systems including Wireless Emergency Alerts, as well as recent system failures, including but not limited to the mistaken missile alert in Hawaii. Additionally, at the request of Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, the committee intends to hold a future field hearing in Hawaii to focus specifically on the missile system alert failure that occurred Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018. 

Witnesses:

• Ms. Lisa M. Fowlkes, Bureau Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, Federal Communications Commission
• Mr. Scott Bergmann, Senior Vice President, CTIA – The Wireless Association
• Mr. Mike Lisenco, Chairman, Legislation Advocacy Committee, Amateur Radio Relay League
• Mr. Sam Matheny, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, National Association of Broadcasters

*Witness list subject to change

Hearing Details:

Thursday, January 25, 2018
10:00 a.m.

This hearing will take place in Russell Senate Office Building, Room 253. Witness testimony, opening statements, and a live video of the hearing will be available on www.commerce.senate.gov.

NOTE: Mr. Mike Lisenco added to the witness list on 1/19/18.