ATIS, Microsoft, Brief FCC Bureau on Wireless Emergency Alerts

Representatives of the ATIS Wireless Technologies and Systems Committee said they briefed staff from the FCC Public Safety Bureau on technical questions on wireless emergency alerts. Among topics was geo-targeting, said a filing in docket 15-91. “Device-based geo-targeting would require fundamental changes to existing cell broadcast technology," the filing said. “The determination of whether and how device-based geo-targeting could be accommodated in existing handsets will be examined by the industry, although ATIS noted that it is likely that some legacy devices will not be able to support the changes via a software upgrade.” Microsoft also reported on a meeting with bureau staff. The bureau "sought input on the impact that different means of transmitting geo‐coordinates in conjunction with emergency alert text to mobile devices would be likely to have on mobile device performance," the company said. "Microsoft offered to explore those questions and will provide a substantive response at a later date."