Wireless Alerting Order Saw Changes Over Draft

The final version of the FCC wireless emergency alerts order, approved by commissioners 5-0 last week (see 2310190056), contained a few tweaks over the draft. The order requires participating wireless providers to transmit emergency messages in the 13 most commonly spoken languages in the U.S., in addition to English and American Sign Language. The order now requires participating carriers to update their WEA election information in a new database “biannually as we do with our Broadband Data Collection.” While the draft proposed updates within 30 days of any changes “we are persuaded” by CTIA and the Competitive Carriers Association “that filing every 6 months (biannually) is consistent with our BDC requirements [and] would accomplish our goals without unduly burdening Participating … Providers,” the order says. In another change, the FCC now directs the Public Safety Bureau to seek comment on whether templates, to be installed on handsets to translate alerts into various languages, “can be made available on all devices.” The order adds a paragraph on how best to educate consumers on the availability of alerts in other languages. “Raising public awareness about this critical step is an important component of ensuring consumers are able to take advantage of multilingual alerts,” the order says: “Equally important is helping consumers understand how to set a WEA-capable device to a default language that enables them to receive multilingual alerts. We encourage all stakeholders involved in the distribution of WEA … to conduct outreach to educate the public about setting their WEA-capable devices to their preferred language to receive multilingual alerts.” The FCC also directs its Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau to publish a consumer guide. The order was posted in Monday’s Daily Digest.