The Federal Communications Commission Enhances Wireless Emergency Alerts with Multilingual Support, Added Functionality, and Public Information
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) took a significant step today by adopting new regulations aimed at improving the effectiveness of Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). These enhancements encompass several key areas, making WEA messages more accessible, informative, and personalized.
Currently, WEA messages are available exclusively in English and Spanish. However, in the recent FCC Order, the Commission mandated that wireless providers participating in WEA expand their support to include messages in the 13 most commonly spoken languages in the United States, in addition to English and American Sign Language (ASL). To facilitate this multilingual alerting expansion, participating wireless providers will enable mobile devices to display pre-installed message templates, ensuring that these alerts are readily accessible on users’ devices.
Recognizing the importance of engaging the public and seeking their input, the FCC directed its Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau to solicit feedback on the implementation details of these multilingual alerting requirements, and also explore possibilities for further expansion to include additional languages.
In an effort to personalize emergency alerts and provide recipients with more context, the FCC’s new regulations require participating wireless providers to include maps in WEA messages. These maps will show the recipient’s location relative to the geographic area where the emergency is taking place, adding a crucial layer of information for the recipient.
To further improve accessibility and transparency, the FCC’s Order also establishes a dedicated database, hosted by the Commission, which will make it easier for the public to access information about the availability of WEA. Wireless providers will be mandated to provide information about their participation in WEA, the extent of WEA coverage in their service areas, and details about the mobile devices they offer. This initiative is expected to enhance both alerting authorities’ and the public’s awareness of WEA’s availability within their respective communities.
Finally, to enhance the overall performance of WEA and boost public awareness, the FCC’s Order allows alerting authorities to conduct two local WEA tests each year, which the public will automatically receive. However, stringent measures must be taken to ensure that the public is fully aware that these tests are not actual emergencies but exercises designed to evaluate the system’s effectiveness.
This monumental decision was reached by the Commission on October 19, 2023, through a Report and Order (FCC 23-88). It garnered unanimous support from Chairwoman Rosenworcel and Commissioners Carr, Starks, Simington, and Gomez, with Chairwoman Rosenworcel, Commissioners Starks, and Gomez also issuing separate statements to express their perspectives and insights on this crucial development.