New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski announced today that they're launching a new mobile telephone emergency alert system by the end of the year in Washington and New York.
Cell Phone EAS To Debut Early In DC And NYC
NEW YORK (AP) — New York City will launch a new national emergency alert system known as PLAN (Personal Localized Alerting Network) by the end of the year that will send messages to cell phones during disasters.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg made the announcement Tuesday at a news conference overlooking the World Trade Center site.
He says the new technology will give the public clear and accurate information about imminent safety threats.
The mayor says it will be geographically targeted and send messages to all cell phone users.
He was joined by FCC Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski, as well as federal and local officials.
The alert plan was approved by Congress in 2006 under the Warning Alert and Response Network Act.
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The system also will be launched in Washington by the end of the year.
NAB EVP Dennis Wharton issued the following statement in response to today’s PLAN initiative: “We’re pleased that cellphone carriers plan to live up to their promise to Congress five years ago to implement an emergency alert messaging system. However, when a cellular network goes down, customers will still be unable to access these 90-character warnings. As was evidenced in Alabama and other parts of the South just two weeks ago, there is no communications system that matches the life-saving immediacy of a local broadcast signal.”
Comments (3)
Warren Harmon says:
May 10, 2011 at 4:53 pm
A nice “extra” but it sure will NOT replace broadcasters OTA services to the masses, I agree with Dennis Wharton adding also that not all people have cell phones. We better be ready for this though, I imagine “enemy of the state” oBongo will have Genachowski pumping up the support for the spectrum grab by claiming another reason for shutting down Free OTA. In addition to the cable vouchers are we going to also have cell phone vouchers for the poor? This Socialist BSTD has to go!
Warren Harmon says:
May 10, 2011 at 4:57 pm
BTW, sign up for those alerts as soon as possible, save the NSA from having to ping on a warrentless basis!
Kathryn Miller says:
May 10, 2011 at 7:34 pm
Do cell phones work well in emergencies? it’s funny how some people can become distorted by political opposition and avoid the easy, logical arguments.