FCC Approves Emergency Alerts Via TXT Messages

Do you ignore text messages you receive on your cell phone? Better start reading them ? soon it could be a matter of life or death.

The FCC says in an effort to better warn you about emergencies a new text message warning system will be in place. The text messaging system comes in response to the Warning, Alert and Response Network Act (WARN Act) which required the FCC to establish new and effective ways of alerting the public to emergencies.

Different Types of Alert Messages

Three different types of alerts will be sent via text message: Presidential alerts, imminent thread alerts, and child abduction/amber alerts.

Presidential alerts will be given the highest priority and preempt other alerts. Due to the 90 character limit of text messages, the example of a Presidential alert was given "The President has issued an Emergency Alert. Check local media for more details."

Imminent threat alerts will be more detailed and must have a sufficient degree of urgency, severity, and certainty.

Child abduction/amber alerts will be more locally targeted and, as the name implies, alert people in the area to child abductions by issuing an amber alert.

The FCC says that participating wireless providers will be required to issue all three alerts. Though a complete list of those participating wireless providers is not found, the usual suspects like AT&T, T-Mobile, and others are cited throughout the FCC documents.

Good Idea, But...

This text messaging plan sounds good in theory, but to me there are some troubling issues. First, not everyone subscribes to text messaging. Personally, I only recently upgraded my plan to allow me to send and receive text messages and I'm sure I'm not the only one who was slow to adopt impersonal text messages.

There's also the worrying example of a Presidential alert. If people are in a panic then simply telling them to "check local media" is not helpful or informative, and could distract a person from taking cautionary measures while they turn on the TV.

Hopefully this text message plan is only one of many measures to comply with the WARN Act. In the mean time, I eagerly await my first "U R n dangr" message.

Comments

Federal (and state/local) taxes, surcharges, and fees now account for at least 15% of my montly cell phone bill. I'm sure my carrier will comply with this decree - and will pass along further government surcharges to us customers.

All for what, exactly? I rarely use text messaging to begin with, and can't think of hardly any imminent dangers about which I would absolutely need to receive an alert via text message.

Thanks, but no thanks!

chipbennett

April 10, 2008

9:09 AM PT