FCC Will Vote August 7th on New Missing and Endangered Persons Event Code
July 31, 2024---As the sponsor of the Missing and Endangered Person's Event Code, Native Public Media (NPM) announced that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will vote on August 7, 2024, to revise the Emergency Alert System (EAS) rules to adopt a new event code for Missing and Endangered Persons (MEP). This new event code enhances public safety by enabling alerts for missing or abducted adults from states, territories, and Tribal Communities.
Loris Ann Taylor, President and CEO of Native Public Media, commented, "The new MEP code will be a powerful tool in ensuring the safety of adults across the nation. By enabling more effective and widespread alerts, we can help address the disproportionate number of missing Indigenous people and improve public safety for all."
In an address at the WEWIN Conference in Prior Lake, Minnesota, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel stated, "The adoption of the Missing and Endangered Persons event code is a significant step towards improving our nation's emergency alert system. This new code will ensure that alerts reach more people who are in danger, especially in communities that have been historically underserved by our public safety communications infrastructure."
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel (center), accepts appreciation from the WEWIN family.
She continued, "One week from now, the FCC will vote to make it easier to use television, radio, and wireless phones to sound the alarm about missing and endangered persons. This event code will save lives in communities across the United States. I traveled here to be with you today because I wanted you to know this is happening. I also wanted to say thank you. The action the FCC is taking next week is in direct response to a call sent out by Native communities after enduring a crisis of the missing for far too long."
"The FCC has recognized NPM's efforts to encourage tribes to become IPAWS alerting authorities, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration. This partnership is crucial in creating an inclusive and effective alert system that can save lives, especially from Tribal jurisdictions," said Taylor.
Taylor states that Native Public Media is proud to support this life-saving initiative and is dedicated to continuing its work to improve public safety and communication for Indigenous communities and other marginalized groups.
The public is invited to watch the historic vote of the FCC to establish the MEP code on August 7, 2024, starting at 10:30 am Eastern Time. Click this link: https://www.fcc.gov/august-2024-open-commission-meeting
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