To the Editor,
I just read the article, “Emergency alert tests with cell phones expanded,” by Jeffrey Silva, in your July 11 edition and found it very interesting. I do believe that the U.S. needs a system similar to the one used in Kuwait. While stationed there with the U.S. Navy Reserve in early 2003, the Kuwaiti government would send out broadcast messages to the cellular subscribers such as when the Iraqis fired cruse missiles into downtown Kuwait City and other times when there was a threat. During these times, I received a text message indicating such an attacked was expected, often prior to the military sending an alarm to the troops stationed in the area.
As location based services start up, this system could be used for all kinds of service alerts as well as the national emergency services that you mentioned in the article. Thanks again for the very informative article. Keep up the good reporting.
Matthew J. Settle
Sprint
