By Teresa von Fuchs
Thursday, April 10, 2008
The FCC has approved a plan to create a nationwide alert system that would send text messages to wireless subscribers in case of certain emergencies. As part of the plan, the commission will appoint a federal agency that will draft messages for carriers to send to customers. Once the emergency alert agency is named, wireless carriers that choose to participate in the plan will have 10 months to meet the commission’s technical requirement.
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said, in a statement: “It is essential that we support and advance new ways to share critical, time-sensitive information with them in times of crisis.”
Carriers do not have to participate in the system, but those that do will send a text messages to subscribers warning them of three types of emergencies: a national disaster that could jeopardize the health and safety of Americans, such as a terrorist attack; imminent or ongoing threats such as hurricanes, tornadoes or earthquakes; child abductions or Amber alerts.
All four major national carriers said they will most likely participate in the system.
Along with the plan being voluntary for carriers, subscribers also can opt out of receiving the alerts.
The plan stems from an act passed by Congress in 2006 that called on the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, the FCC and other agencies to work together to expand the capabilities of emergency communications in the United States using text messages.