A vote in the U.S. Federal Communications Commission green lighted a slew of enhancements to the Wireless Emergency Alerts system, allowing users to get messages with extra detail and content than before.
According to reports, a number of interactive elements will also be embedded in the emergency alerts.
To networks sporting 4G LTE speeds or more, alerts will allow messages of up to 360 characters, a big leap from the previous 90 character limit. Carriers will support embedded phone links, phone numbers, and even Amber Alerts. Sometime in the future, the alerts are said to even contain photos, which could prove very useful, especially in the case of missing persons or wanted fugitives.
The FCC focuses on rolling out alerts that are better tailored to the end user, so that additional languages, such as Spanish, can be deployed in the alert. The FCC says that its upgrades will be aimed at "more granular geographic areas."
The commission said that it elaborated the Public Safety Message, which is a novel type of alert targeted at instructing people what to do should they find themselves in an area hit by natural disasters.
One additional intention of the FCC is to help state and local governments test WEA technology and make sure their staff is fully trained in how to use it.
The data carriers are asking for more time to prepare for more multimedia in alerts, as they point out interactive elements have the potential to generate some level of confusion for older phones that don't recognize links. What is more, alerts could sink responders' websites and even cause network congestion.
On Sept. 17 to 19, four terrorist incidents hit New York City and New Jersey, underlining the need for an updated alert system. As a reminder, Ahmad Khan Rahami is the suspect in all the four bombings and bombing attempts, and he was apprehended by the law enforcement officers.
Immediately after the incidents, New Yorkers received an alert that read "WANTED: Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28-yr-old male. See media for pic. Call 9-1-1 if seen."
The revamped alerts system would have showed an image of Rahami that could have helped people identify him more easily, alongside an explanation on why he was wanted.
Cellphone emergency alerts debuted in 2012 and have been a handy tool for public safety officials. They were used to notify people about missing children, warn them against imminent weather calamities or caution on specific dangers in the local community.
In March, Mexico City was under alert for a period of four days, due to perilous levels of air pollution.
