The FCC unanimously approved an order and further notice of proposed rulemaking to create additional cybersecurity for the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). The new rules impose enhanced cybersecurity requirements for EAS, including for EAS Participants to use strong passwords, promptly install security updates, and use a network firewall. In the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the FCC seeks comment on proposals for EAS and WEA including requiring the authentication of all alerts before they are transmitted, establishing a universal alert identification number, requiring alerts to display symbols for different emergencies, improving geographic accuracy of alerts, and requiring text-to-speech functionality for earthquake alerts in English, Spanish and other languages.
