The Federal Communications Commission boasts that its new wireless emergency-alert proposal will help fulfill its statutory charter to promote the safety of life and property, but the agency’s head conceded to lawmakers there’s no assurance that warnings of terrorist threats or natural disasters will actually be delivered to the nation’s 250 million cellphone subscribers.
“By starting this rulemaking today, we take a significant step towards implementing one of our highest priorities – to ensure that all Americans have the capability to receive timely and accurate alerts, warnings and critical information regarding impending disasters and other emergencies irrespective of what communications technologies they use,” stated the FCC in its 118-page mobile alert plan.
The current emergency-alert system dates back to the Cold War, and relies largely on broadcast TV and radio. The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, prompted Congress to re-examine the country’s emergency warning regime.
Response to Stevens
The FCC released the emergency alert proposal the day after powerful Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) asked at a Dec. 13 Senate Commerce Committee hearing when the modernized emergency warning network would be deployed. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin responded, but it was probably not the answer Stevens wanted to hear.
“I can’t give you an answer for sure on whether or not, or when, that will become a reality,” Martin said. “Part of the legislation was that it was still the option of the wireless industry to opt in to providing those warnings. So that I don’t know for sure whether any of the industry will actually opt in to providing it or not. I actually am hopeful that they do. I think Congress is as well, but I can’t give you a guarantee whether that will happen or not.”
While legislation signed into law in 2005 sets out a process to develop technical standards for wireless emergency alerts, it remains a voluntary program.
The cellular industry did not want emergency-alert capability forced down its collective throat.
“We are very pleased with how the chairman facilitated this process and look forward to working with the commission as this item advances,” said Joe Farren, a spokesman for cellular industry association CTIA.
States pushing issue
As the FCC itself noted, last year’s Virginia Tech shootings and Southern California fires – as well as major hurricanes in 2005 – make wireless alert capability essential to enabling “Americans to take appropriate action to protect their families and themselves from loss of life or serious injury.”
States like California and Florida say they want to move forward sooner on wireless alerts. Airadigm Communications Inc. provides wireless alert service to customers in Appleton, Wis., using cell-broadcast technology from Houston-based CellCast Technologies Inc. The mobile-phone industry has resisted embracing cell broadcast, preferring to examine all possible technical solutions.
