Essential Components of a Policy Problem Description

Essential Components of a Policy Problem DescriptionThreat warning systemProcess example

Questions Your Policy Problem Description Must AnswerWhat are the problematic condition(s)?What problem(s) do the condition(s) present? What are the policy issues?What is the your concern(s)?What is your intended readers concern(s)?What other stakeholders are concerned?What are the key disagreements and agreements among those concerned?What plausible and realistic solution can you offer?

What are the problematic conditions?The U.S. is prone to frequent disastersman-made and natural (we are the #1 nation in terms of tornado frequency)and, as an open society, we are vulnerable to terrorist attack as well.

Yet, when an urgent public warning is issued, especially late at night, the majority of Americans have no way of being alerted to imminent danger.

What problem(s) do the condition(s) present?Unnecessary loss of life

Excessive property damage

Increased feeling of insecurity

What are the policy issues?PrimaryNeed for a more effective public-warning system infrastructure only possible with federal leadership including coordination of existing warning issuing agencies, and to secure the cooperation of consumer-device manufacturers.

Such an effort would amount to an industrial policy.

Lack of political leadership to institute such a system.

What are the policy issues?SecondaryPolitical and stakeholder coalition needed to achieve national industrial policy does not currently exist

Economic issues, especially off-shoring of consumer electronics production for US markets

Need for technical standards for products and administrative rules enforcing those standards

My ConcernThe technology exists to bring official warnings to the publics attention in a timely manner

But creation of an effective system is stalled, leading to avoidable loss of life & property damage

Due to a lack of leadership, particularly the federal government, which bears ultimate responsibility for warning citizens of potential danger.

Intender Readers ConcernMy intended readers (high government officials) are responsible, personally and professionally, for ensuring that public warnings are disseminated as effectively as possible. Their concern is, or should be, that their duties related to public safety be well executed.

Other StakeholdersDepartment of CommerceNational Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationNational Weather ServiceDepartment of Homeland SecurityFederal Emergency Management Administration Transportation Security AdministrationFederal Communication CommissionNational Institute of Standards and TechnologyInsurance industryCommunications product manufacturers Communication service providers

Key agreementsEveryone agrees that the protection of lives and property is a salient public value.

Almost everyone agrees that, as a national problem, leadership at the federal level is appropriate.

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Key disagreementsDisagreements include the appropriate mix of public and private participation

What costs should be borne by individual citizens

The acceptable degree of intrusion when warnings broadcasts are disseminated.

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What plausible and realistic solution can you offer?The U.S. could ensure nearly universal reception of public warnings, day or night, by encouraging the manufacture of alert-friendly consumer electronic devices that monitor and announce emergency alert transmissions automatically within appropriate design parameters.