Media Contact: 
Rochelle Cohen
rochelle.cohen@fcc.gov

For Immediate Release

FCC ADDS ADDITIONAL LANGUAGES AND FEATURES TO WIRELESS EMERGENCY ALERTS
  Alerting Database to Provide Public Information on WEA Availability-- 

WASHINGTON, October 19, 2023— The Federal Communications Commission today adopted rules to improve Wireless Emergency Alerts by making WEA messages available in more than a dozen additional languages, including American Sign Language; adding increased functionality; and providing public information on where and how WEA is available. 

At present, WEA messages are available only in English or Spanish.  In an Order adopted today, the Commission required wireless providers that participate in WEA to support messages in the 13 most commonly spoken languages in the U.S. as well as English and American Sign Language.  Participating wireless providers are to support this expanded multilingual alerting by enabling mobile devices to display message templates that will be pre-installed and stored on the mobile device.

The Commission directed its Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau to seek comment on various implementation details of the multilingual alerting requirements and future expansion to additional languages. 

In addition, to help personalize emergency alerts, today’s Order requires participating wireless providers to support the inclusion of maps in WEA messages that show the alert recipient’s location relative to the geographic area where the emergency is occurring.  

Today’s Order also establishes a Commission-hosted database to provide the public with easy-to-access information on WEA availability.  Wireless providers will be required to supply information on whether they participate in WEA and, if so, the extent of WEA availability in their service area and on the mobile devices that they sell.  This will improve alerting authorities’ and the public’s awareness of WEA availability in their community.

Last, to support more effective WEA performance and public awareness, today’s Order enables alerting authorities to send two local WEA tests per year that the public receives by default, provided that the alerting authority takes steps to ensure that the public is aware that the test is, in fact, only a test.

Action by the Commission October 19, 2023 by Report and Order (FCC 23-88).  Chairwoman Rosenworcel, Commissioners Carr, Starks, Simington, and Gomez approving.  Chairwoman Rosenworcel, Commissioners Starks, and Gomez issuing separate statements.

PS Docket Nos. 15-91, 15-94

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Media Relations: (202) 418-0500 / ASL: (844) 432-2275 / Twitter: @FCC / www.fcc.gov 

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).