my name is sam matheny on the chief officer of the national association of broadcasting at about half of the thousands of free local television and radio broadcasters in your hometown thank you for inviting me to testify on the emergency alert system and how broadcasters fulfill their roles as first informers and how innovation will allow broadcasters to do even more to keep viewers and listeners safe during emergencies. broadcasters take seriously their role as the most trusted source of news and emergency updates whether it's preparing listeners and viewers for the coming storm directingr them to need supplies and shelter during a disaster for helping rebuild in the aftermath local stations are part of the communities they serve. broadcasting is sometimes the only available communication medium in an emergency when wireless networks fail. warning console we found the american people turn to broadcast in times of emergency by a factor of more than 3-1. broadcasting is unique for the following reasons. first, broadcasting covers virtually everyone. broadcasting those reach more of the

sam -- sam matheny -- >> matheny. >> thank you. matheny, executive vice president and chief technology at the national association of broadcasters and mike lisenco. thank you for being here. i look forward to today's discussion and i will now recognize the ranking member, senator for any opening remashes and i think he could speak personally to the impact of this issue. >> thank you, mr. chairman. for many people in hawaii, one of the most harrowing hours of their lives started just a few minutes after 8:00 a.m. on january 13th, 2018. cell phones across the state lit up with a warning that a ballistic missile atab was imminent. for the next 38 minutes both residents and visitors panicked. people were terrified as they scrambled to get in touch with loved ones. i know, because i was home in honolulu that morning and i got dozens of texts with screen shots of the push alert asking me what was happening. meanwhile within a minute or two, officials at the hawaii emergency management agency had spoken to the pacific command and confirme