FCC Bolsters Effectiveness of Wireless Emergency Alerts

Action Will Improve Geographic Targeting of Alerts

The Federal Communications Commission adopted rules to improve the geographic targeting of Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), a system that delivers critical warnings and information to the public on their wireless phones.  The updated rules are intended to promote the wider use and effectiveness of this lifesaving service, especially for state and local authorities to convey critical messages to their communities.

This action requires participating wireless providers to deliver WEA alerts in a more geographically precise manner so that the alerts reach the communities impacted by an emergency without disturbing others.  Specifically, the FCC’s rules require participating wireless providers to deliver WEA alerts to the target area specified by the alert originator with no more than a one-tenth of a mile overshoot.  This enhanced geo-targeting requirement will go into effect on November 30, 2019. 

This action also requires that alert messages remain available in a consumer-accessible format on wireless devices for 24 hours after receipt, or until the consumer chooses to delete the message, which will enable the public to better review emergency information.