WASHINGTON—President Bush signed an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to upgrade the nation’s Cold War-era emergency alert system, which has yet to leverage wireless, Internet and other technologies.
The order calls on DHS to administer the emergency alert system in coordination with other federal agencies, including the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC historically has been responsible for emergency warning rules and oversight. Those rules largely rely on voluntary participation by broadcasters and cable TV operators. The FCC has proposed expanding the emergency alert program to include cell-phone carriers.
Legislation is being considered in the House and Senate to update the country’s public warning system.
