Emergency Alert Grant Fairness Act

The Emergency Alert Grant Fairness Act would modify how the Federal Emergency Management Agency administers grants for the Next Generation Warning System (NGWS). The bill would direct FEMA to keep the grant application window open for at least 30 days each year and restore eligibility for local public broadcasters to apply for funding. Currently, FEMA has issued application windows as short as 9 days, which sponsors argue limits participation from smaller broadcasters.

The NGWS program was created to help local public broadcasters purchase modernized equipment to support emergency alert systems that reach over 99 percent of Americans, including those without cell phone service or internet access. The program was previously administered by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting but transferred to FEMA following that organization's closure. If enacted, this bill would aim to ensure more local broadcasters can access these grants to maintain and upgrade their emergency alert infrastructure.