Media Contact: 
Rochelle Cohen, (202) 418-1162
rochelle.cohen@fcc.gov
For Immediate Release
FCC STRENGTHENS WIRELESS EMERGENCY ALERTS 
AS A PUBLIC SAFETY TOOL
  --
WASHINGTON, September 29, 2016 – The Federal Communications Commission today 
adopted rules to update and strengthen Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), a system that delivers 
critical warnings and information to Americans on their wireless phones. The updated rules are 
intended to promote the wider use and effectiveness of this lifesaving service, especially for state 
and local authorities to convey important information to their communities.
Since its launch in 2012, WEA has informed the public about severe weather, missing children, 
and other emergencies through alerts to their wireless phones. Now that stakeholders have four 
years’ experience with the service, and in light of its real-world use and technological 
advancements since the FCC adopted technical and procedural requirements for WEA in 2008, 
the agency has updated its rules. 
In a Report and Order adopted today, the Commission took action to improve WEA message 
content, help ensure that the messages reach only those people for whom an alert is relevant, and 
establish a WEA testing program that will improve the effectiveness of the system for public 
safety officials and the public. The updated rules will: 
? Increase the maximum length of WEA messages (from 90 to 360 characters) for 4G LTE 
and future networks;
? Require participating wireless providers to support inclusion of embedded phone 
numbers and URLs in all WEA alerts, including WEA AMBER alerts, which will enable 
the public to click to see a photo or to call authorities;
? Require participating wireless providers to deliver the alerts to more granular geographic 
areas;
? Create a new class of alerts (“Public Safety Messages”) to convey essential, 
recommended actions that can save lives or property (e.g. emergency shelter locations or 
a boil water order);
? Require participating wireless providers to support transmission of Spanish-language 
alerts; and
? Make it easier for state and local authorities to test WEA, train personnel, and raise 
public awareness about the service. 
The Commission noted the public safety benefits of including thumbnail-sized photos and 
symbols in Wireless Emergency Alerts and, in an accompanying Further Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking, sought comment on how to achieve this in Public Safety Messages in particular.
The Commission also proposed and sought comment on additional improvements to WEA, 
including how to provide emergency managers with the ability to send multilingual alert content 
(in addition to Spanish) and measures to improve consumer education about WEA. 
Today’s action is designed to ensure that WEA keeps pace with evolving technologies and 
empowers communities to initiate these lifesaving alerts. 
For more information on Wireless Emergency Alerts, visit www.fcc.gov/guides/wireless-
emergency-alerts-wea.
Action by the Commission, September 29, 2016, by Report and Order and Further Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 16-127). Chairman Wheeler, Commissioners Clyburn, Rosenworcel 
and Pai approving. Commissioner O’Rielly approving in part, dissenting in part. Chairman 
Wheeler, Commissioners Clyburn, Rosenworcel, Pai and O’Rielly issuing separate statements.
Docket No: 15-94
###
Office of Media Relations: (202) 418-0500
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This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order 
constitutes official action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).