[BCVHFA] FCC ADOPTS RULES FOR DELIVERY OF COMMERCIAL MOBILE ALERTS TO THE PUBLIC DURING EMERGENCIES

[Carl Morgan]

Copied from the Miami Valley Ham Radio Bulletin Board, Dayton, OH

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FCC ADOPTS RULES FOR DELIVERY OF COMMERCIAL MOBILE ALERTS TO THE 
PUBLIC DURING EMERGENCIES.



The Commission adopts rules to support the ability of the nation's 
wireless carriers to transmit timely and accurate alerts, warnings 
and critical information to the cell phones and other mobile devices 
of consumers during disasters and emergencies.



News Media Contact: Robert Kenny at (202) 418-2668;
email:  <mailto:Robert.Kenny%40fcc.gov> Robert.Kenny at fcc.gov PSHSB.

Contact: Lisa Fowlkes at (202) 418-7452

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FCC ADOPTS RULES FOR DELIVERY OF COMMERCIAL MOBILE ALERTS TO THE 
PUBLIC DURING EMERGENCIES



             Washington, DC - The Federal Communications Commission 
(FCC) today adopted a First Report and Order (Order) that will 
support the ability of the nation's wireless carriers to transmit 
timely and accurate alerts, warnings and critical information to the 
cell phones and other mobile devices of consumers during disasters or 
other emergencies.

In compliance with the Warning, Alert and Response Network Act (WARN 
Act), today's Order adopts relevant technical  requirements based on 
the recommendations of the Commercial Mobile Service Alert Advisory 
Committee (CMSAAC) for the transmission of such emergency messages to 
the public.

              During emergencies, Americans increasingly rely on 
wireless telecommunications services and devices to receive critical, 
time-sensitive information anywhere, anytime.  Once fully 
implemented, the Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) will help 
ensure that Americans who subscribe to participating wireless 
services receive emergency alerts when there is a disaster or 
emergency that may impact their lives or well-being.

Wireless carriers that choose to participate in the CMAS will 
transmit text-based alerts to their subscribers.  As technology 
evolves, the CMAS may eventually include audio and video services to 
transmit emergency alerts to the public. To ensure that people with 
disabilities who subscribe to wireless services receive these 
emergency alerts, the FCC adopted rules that will require wireless 
carriers who participate in the CMAS to transmit messages with both 
vibration cadence and audio attention signals.

Consumers can expect to receive three types of messages via their 
cell phones and other mobile devices from participating  wireless 
carriers, including:

*        Presidential Alerts - national emergency-related alerts 
delivered to the American public that would preempt any other pending alerts;

*        Imminent Threat Alerts -  alerts with information on 
emergencies that may pose an imminent risk to people's lives or 
well-being; and

*        Child Abduction Emergency/AMBER Alerts - alerts related to 
missing or endangered children due to an abduction or runaway situation.

Under the CMAS, subscribers to wireless services with roaming 
agreements will receive timely alerts, provided the subscriber's 
mobile device is configured for, and technically capable of, 
receiving such emergency alerts from the network they are roaming on.

Participating wireless carriers will be required to comply with the 
rules adopted in the Order today within 10 months from the date of 
announcement that a Federal agency has been designated to collect and 
transmit the alerts to the wireless carriers.

Action by the Commission, April 9, 2008, by Commercial Mobile Alert 
Service First Report and Order (FCC 08-99).  Chairman Martin, and 
Commissioners Copps, Adelstein, Tate and McDowell.  Separate 
Statements issued by Chairman Martin, and Commissioners Copps, 
Adelstein, Tate and McDowell.  PS Docket No. 07-287.

Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) contact is Lisa 
Fowlkes, Deputy Bureau Chief, at (202) 418-7452.

-FCC-