The FCC has adopted rules to enhance Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) by making WEA messages available in more than a dozen additional languages, including American sign language. WEA messages are currently only available in English and Spanish. To support multilingual alerting, participating wireless providers must enable mobile devices to display message templates that will be pre-installed and stored on the mobile device. The Commission has directed the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau to seek comment on implementation details of the multilingual alerting requirements.
Additionally, the FCC will: (1) require participating wireless providers to incorporate maps into WEA messages that display alert recipients’ locations in relation to the geographic area where the emergency is occurring; (2) establish an FCC-hosted database to provide the public with key information on which providers participate in WEA and the extent of WEA availability in their respective service area; and (3) enable alerting authorities to send two local WEA tests per year.
