Bill Text: NJ SR95 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Congress and President to approve "Local Television Service and Emergency Preparedness Act of 2018."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-09-13 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee [SR95 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-SR95-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator VIN GOPAL
District 11 (Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Urges Congress and President to approve "Local Television Service and Emergency Preparedness Act of 2018."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution urging the United States Congress and the President of the United States to approve the "Local Television Service and Emergency Preparedness Act of 2018."
Whereas, Many New Jersey residents are served by New York and Philadelphia broadcast television and radio stations for daily news; and
Whereas, During times of crisis and emergency, New Jersey residents have historically had to rely on the limited coverage of news and information provided by out-of-State television stations in New York and Philadelphia; and
Whereas, When Superstorm Sandy impacted the Northeast region of the United States in 2012, New York television stations largely concentrated emergency news coverage on Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, New York City subways, and New York City Hall, with only limited mention of the impacts in New Jersey; and
Whereas, New Jersey is one of only three states without a dedicated in-State, Nielsen designated television market area with the typical complement of network affiliated, local news oriented television stations; and
Whereas, Emergency notification systems in the United States rely on broadcast news sources to disseminate important local information to area residents; and
Whereas, In times of emergency, like New Jersey previously experienced during Superstorm Sandy, many New Jersey residents may not receive potentially life-saving news and information under the existing emergency notification system; and
Whereas, On July 18, 2018, Representative Chris Smith of New Jersey introduced H.R.6416, the "Local Television Service and Emergency Preparedness Act of 2018"; and
Whereas, That proposed legislation provides a necessary federal solution to long-standing problems that affect New Jersey residents related to the gap in local television service and emergency preparedness and response; and
Whereas, Enactment of the federal legislation would provide most New Jersey residents with a common television channel number that residents can turn to for important and potentially life-saving news and information; and
Whereas, Enactment of the federal legislation would designate the television station licensed to broadcast on that television channel as a first-tier Local Primary Emergency Alert System station, so that the station can, through the use of digital transmission technology, better disseminate warnings to television and radio stations around the State, including alerts from the federal Emergency Alert System, updates from the National Weather Center, and "America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response" (AMBER) alerts; and
Whereas, Enactment of the federal legislation would also require the television station to provide local and State news and a daily newscast and public affairs programming oriented to New Jersey, and to make such programming available on the Internet; and
Whereas, Enactment of the "Local Television Service and Emergency Preparedness Act of 2018" is necessary for implementing efficient and effective emergency notification systems and emergency response operations in New Jersey; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. The New Jersey Senate respectfully urges the United States Congress to pass, and the President of the United States to sign, H.R.6416, the "Local Television Service and Emergency Preparedness Act of 2018," in order to address long-standing problems that affect New Jersey residents related to the gap in local television service and emergency preparedness and response.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the President of the United States, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from this State.
STATEMENT
This resolution respectfully urges the United States Congress to pass, and the President of the United States to sign, H.R.6416, the "Local Television Service and Emergency Preparedness Act of 2018."
New Jersey is one of only three states without a dedicated, in-State, Nielsen designated television market area, with the typical complement of local news oriented, network affiliated television stations. During times of crisis and emergency New York and Philadelphia broadcast television stations have historically provided broad coverage of news and information to their entire metropolitan areas, respectively, of which New Jersey is only a small part. The "Local Television Service and Emergency Preparedness Act of 2018" establishes a federal solution to this and other long-standing problems that affect New Jersey residents related to the gap in local television service and emergency preparedness and response. Enactment of H.R.6416 is necessary to establish an effective emergency notification system and to implement effective emergency response operations in New Jersey, and to bring a traditional daily newscast and public affairs programming to the State.
