Media Contact: 
Rochelle Cohen, 202-418-1162
rochelle.cohen@fcc.gov 
For Immediate Release
FCC ADDS BLUE ALERTS TO THE NATION’S EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEMS
Blue Alerts Can Protect Law Enforcement Officers and Communities
WASHINGTON, December 14, 2017—The Federal Communications Commission today 
added a new alert option—called a “Blue Alert”—to the nation’s emergency alerting systems.  
Blue Alerts can be used by state and local authorities to notify the public of threats to law 
enforcement and to help apprehend dangerous suspects.  
Blue Alerts warn the public when there is actionable information related to a law enforcement 
officer who is missing, seriously injured or killed in the line of duty, or when there is an 
imminent credible threat to an officer.  A Blue Alert could quickly warn you if a violent 
suspect may be in your community, along with providing instructions on what to do if you spot 
the suspect and how to stay safe.
In an Order adopted today, the FCC created a dedicated Blue Alert event code in the 
Emergency Alert System so that state and local agencies have the option to send these 
warnings to the public through broadcast, cable, satellite, and wireline video providers.  
Officials may also send Blue Alerts through the Wireless Emergency Alert system to 
consumers’ wireless phones. 
Today’s action supports the development of compatible and integrated Blue Alert plans 
throughout the United States, a goal consistent with the Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu 
National Blue Alert Act of 2015.  The Act, which is implemented by the Department of 
Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office), directs cooperation 
with the FCC.   
Today’s Order provides a 12-month implementation period for Blue Alerts to be delivered over 
the Emergency Alert System and 18 months for delivery over the Wireless Emergency Alert 
system. 
Action by the Commission December 14, 2017 by Report and Order (FCC 17-170). Chairman 
Pai, Commissioners Clyburn, O’Rielly, and Carr approving.  Commissioner Rosenworcel 
approving in part and dissenting in part.  Chairman Pai, Commissioners Clyburn, O’Rielly, 
Carr and Rosenworcel issuing separate statements.
PS Docket No. 15-94
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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).