Next Generation Warning System Grant Program

Goal: The goal of this grant is to enhance alert and warning capabilities and improve resiliency of emergency alert and warning systems through effective services, solutions, and technology to improve the timely delivery of public safety information. The grant will explore and embrace currently available and emerging technology with audio and visual capabilities across all platforms to enable interactive and actionable emergency communications to the public. Objectives: In coordination with the FEMA Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Division, the grant recipients will pursue the following objectives: 1) integrate effective, reliable, available, and timely alert and warning capabilities to enhance public emergency communications; 2) test and deploy proven common-sense tools, pathways, and technologies that support advanced visual and audio alerts; and 3) coordinate and execute whole-community public warning field training, testing, exercise, and evaluation in collaboration with IPAWS, federal, state, local, tribal, and private sector partners, including broadcasters and wireless carriers, to support the development of alert and warning governance, policies, plans, and procedures while improving cross jurisdictional coordination before, during, and after incidents.

The public may be third-party beneficiaries of the program if subapplicants purchase and distribute consumer devices that can receive emergency alerts (e.g., radios and other devices). The subrecipient assesses the needs of their communities and submits an application stating how the devices would benefit their communities. This NOFO and any subsequent federal awards create no rights or causes of action for any beneficiary.

Fiscal year 2025: Previous funding supported investments that improved resiliency and continuity of broadcast operations, and security of public broadcasting networks and systems. Projects included replacing aging infrastructure, purchasing advanced technology and resilience equipment, providing training, and acquiring consumer receivers using NGWS integrated with IPAWS, while also upgrading to the Advanced Television Systems Committee broadcast standard (ATSC 3.0) or digital radio to reach more device types, incorporate multimedia in alert and warning messaging, and make alerts more accessible. Fiscal year 2026: Funding may support installation of IPAWS?compatible sirens and giant?voice systems; coordination to enhance signals and availability for weather radios; integration and deployment of emergency alert datacasting technology; deployment of systems that deliver advanced visual and audio alerts to digital billboards, signage, and kiosks; integration of alerts into internet?connected devices; integration of satellite?based alert and warning technologies and automated message origination and distribution; development of alert and warning field testing, training, and exercise...