FCC Strengthens Wireless Emergency Alerts As A Public Safety Tool

The Federal Communications Commission adopted rules to update and strengthen Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), a system that delivers critical warnings and information to Americans on their wireless phones. The updated rules are intended to promote the wider use and effectiveness of this lifesaving service, especially for state and local authorities to convey important information to their communities.

Since its launch in 2012, WEA has informed the public about severe weather, missing children, and other emergencies through alerts to their wireless phones. Now that stakeholders have four years’ experience with the service, and in light of its real-world use and technological advancements since the FCC adopted technical and procedural requirements for WEA in 2008, the agency has updated its rules. In a Report and Order adopted Sept 29, the FCC took action to improve WEA message content, help ensure that the messages reach only those people for whom an alert is relevant, and establish a WEA testing program that will improve the effectiveness of the system for public safety officials and the public.

The updated rules will:

• Increase the maximum length of WEA messages (from 90 to 360 characters) for 4G LTE and future networks;
• Require participating wireless providers to support inclusion of embedded phone numbers and URLs in all WEA alerts, including WEA AMBER alerts, which will enable the public to click to see a photo or to call authorities;
• Require participating wireless providers to deliver the alerts to more granular geographic areas;
• Create a new class of alerts (“Public Safety Messages”) to convey essential, recommended actions that can save lives or property (e.g. emergency shelter locations or a boil water order);
• Require participating wireless providers to support transmission of Spanish-language alerts; and
• Make it easier for state and local authorities to test WEA, train personnel, and raise public awareness about the service. Commissioner O’Rielly dissenting in part.