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FCC Approves Nationwide Mobile Alert System

Apr 9, 2008, 3:01 PM by Eric M. Zeman
updated Apr 10, 2008, 1:06 PM

The Federal Communications Commission approved a new, national alert system that would send text messages to Americans during emergencies. The three events that would trigger the text message alerts are a disaster or attack that could injure Americans or threaten their health; natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes or tornadoes; or Amber alerts or child abductions. The messages will be created by a government agency that has yet to be formed. The network operators have to opt into the system once it is created, and will have 10 months to meet the technical requirements of the system. So far AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless all said they would participate. End-users can also choose to opt in or out. Subscribers will not be charged for messages sent through the alert system, which will not be operational until 2010.

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Comments

This forum is closed.

This forum is closed.

ajstrong

Apr 9, 2008, 4:14 PM

would standard txt msg fees still apply

AND would those that have a texting block get the alerts either way? If it's a national emergency that could threaten health of individuals, it would be quite interesting to see just how connected the american people is to their cell phones.

DoubleHelix

ajstrong said:
AND would those that have a texting block get the alerts either way? If it's a national emergency that could threaten health of individuals, it would be quite interesting to see just how connected the american peopl

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mattb2305

From what I understand about the switch operating system for most major networks, blocking text is an all or nothing deal. If you have an admin txt block thru the switch, nothing is coming thru to your phone, emergency or not. You would need a pay p...
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Roadkill

"Subscribers will not be charged for messages sent through the alert system, which will not be operational until 2010."

Amber alerts are already available on the major carriers, though I don't remember for sure whether or not they're free. I th ...
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