Chairman Pai Announces Improved Wireless Emergency Alerts Now Available

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced availability of a suite of enhancements to Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) that will enable Americans to receive more geographically precise, effective, and informative alerts on their mobile phones during emergencies, which will help save lives. Local officials are now better able to send geotargeted wireless alerts to areas affected by an emergency without reaching unaffected communities, which will increase confidence in alerting and promote public safety—especially during evacuations. Officials can also now send more informative and relevant content in alert messages. As a result of FCC rules, the following improvements are now available:

• Geographic Accuracy: Wireless providers that participate in WEAs must deliver the messages to the area specified by the alert originator with no more than a 1/10 of a mile overshoot, as opposed to the prior “best approximation” standard.
• Longer Messages & Better Reach: WEAs will accommodate longer messages—an increase from 90 to 360 characters—and messages in Spanish.
• New Alert Type: There is a new class of alerts (“Public Safety Messages”) for officials to convey recommendations for saving lives or property, such as the location of emergency shelters after a disaster.
• Better Testing: Emergency managers can now conduct state and local WEA tests that reach only consumers who choose to participate, and these tests do not require a waiver from the FCC.