Emergency Broadcast System Coming To Cell Phones

Posted by samzenpus on Wednesday November 17, 2010 @07:23AM from the set-your-emergency-to-vibrate dept.

gambit3 writes "The Emergency Broadcast System that interrupts TV programming in times of crisis is jumping to a new format where it might be able to reach you better — on your cell phone. The communications company Alcatel-Lucent announced Tuesday that it's creating a Broadcast Message Center that will allow government agencies to send cell phone users specific information in the event of a local, state or national emergency. It will be similar to the TV alerts in that the text messages will be geographically targeted for areas where a tornado alert or major road closure, for example, is in effect."

1 of 256 comments (clear)

Re:will you have to pay for incoming and roaming by eleuthero · 2010-11-17 08:20 · Score: 0, Troll

I am in favor of "unfunded mandates" and "public service" announcement requirements - if the government can require television broadcasters to carry public service announcements without paying them and requiring no payment be billed to viewers (and they can - the FCC governs the bandwidth allotment of individual towers and channels), then I see no reason to think they will be unable to require ATT / Sprint / etc. to carry free messages (ATT already does for Amber alerts on a voluntary basis).