FCC Approves Nationwide Mobile Alert System

The Federal Communications Commission approved a new, national alert system that would send text messages to Americans during emergencies. The three events that would trigger the text message alerts are a disaster or attack that could injure Americans or threaten their health; natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes or tornadoes; or Amber alerts or child abductions. The messages will be created by a government agency that has yet to be formed. The network operators have to opt into the system once it is created, and will have 10 months to meet the technical requirements of the system. So far AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless all said they would participate. End-users can also choose to opt in or out. Subscribers will not be charged for messages sent through the alert system, which will not be operational until 2010.