Wireless Networks to Participate in FCC Cell Phone Alert System

Many mobile phone sites on the web has featured a story on the FCC making plans on a nationwide emergency alert system using text messages on mobile devices. The commission is trying to enable people to communicate emergency situations by sending text messages to mobile phones.

Top wireless networks including Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint Nextel, and T-Mobile and Verizon have expressed that they are willing to take part in the program. However, the wireless networks strongly request the FCC to adopt an advisory committee's recommendations. The recommendations include, limiting warnings to English and 90 characters in length.

The commission has also decided to allow each participating wireless network to choose its own technical solution for deploying emergency warnings to customers. Special provisions for disabled individuals were also made by the considerate commission.

Well, the Federal Communications Commission approved technical guidelines for a voluntary mobile-phone emergency alert system according to the request of participating wireless network. Unfortunately, a federal coordinator has not yet been appointed for the new public warning system.

The delay began when the Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA wanted the FCC to delay key decisions in the rulemaking early this year. The reason for the delay was a legal glitch according to the agency.

The agency wrote the FCC concerning a presidential order given last year that gave FEMA delegated authority over the emergency alert system involving presidential activations. However, the agency do not have enough authority to be involved with critical components of the commercial mobile alert system during non-emergency periods. This components include the trust model, aggregator and gateway functions.

In this issue, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin released this statement,

“By adopting technical requirements for the wireless alerting system today, we are enabling wireless providers that choose to participate in this system to begin designing their networks to deliver mobile alerts. It would have been better, of course, if we had a federal entity in place now to take on the role of alert aggregator and gateway. We are hopeful that we have initiated the dialogue that will allow an appropriate federal entity to assume that central role in an expeditious manner."

Some of the officials involved in this project expressed being disheartened by FEMA's unwillingness to fulfill the role since the agency was intimately involved in developing the idea of a unified federal gateway/aggregator. FEMA reportedly suggest that it would be unable to perform this key function for statutory and other reasons.

It seems that a firm candidate for a position that is essential to launching the alert system is missing getting this system. The FCC may be forced to work with its fellow agencies and the Congress to find a federal entity that can fulfill the controversial function due to FEMA’s recent and unexpected interpretation of its statutory authority.

I like the idea of this alert system based on text messages. Mobile phones are so prevalent today so a system based on text messages can be effective. Wireless networks have also expressed interest in the program which is also good news in my opinion. I hope that the parties involved can sort out this mess and a coordinator can be appointed to guide the project.