Text alerts will be used by U.S. government to warn citizens of danger through their cell phones in a way similar to AU Alert
The United States: is adopting a cell phone alert system similar to Auburn University’s own AU Alert. JD Schein / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Seeing everyone on campus reach for their cell phones when an AU Alert goes out is something many Auburn students have experienced, but now the phenomenon will reach nationwide.
The Federal Communications Commission will implement a nationwide alert system, similar to AU Alert that will notify users of varied emergencies through the use of cell phone text messages.
The FCC approved the alert system last week and strides are already being taken to streamline the process.
A federal agency will be appointed, which will oversee the process of sending out emergency text messages.
After the agency is compiled, participating cell phone companies will be given 10 months to fit the agency’s requirements.
Providers who have already expressed interest in such a system have included AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon and Sprint Nextel.
Emergency qualifications have been determined by the FCC, and they will only send out alert messages if the situation fits emergency requirements. Three types of emergencies have been deemed appropriate enough to send out an alert to subscribers.
The first kind, like a terrorist attack, would trigger an alert from the president as it could compromise the health and safety of many Americans.
The second case of emergency would be ongoing weather threats and could be regionalized. This would include hurricanes, earthquakes or tornadoes.
The last would be a child abduction or Amber Alert that would require national attention.
Miles Duncan, a senior in public relations, was unsure if the national program would be as effective as AU Alert.
“I don’t know how they’ll be able to target the message to a specific audience,” Duncan said.
“I don’t want to get text messages every time there is a tornado in another part of the country.”
Duncan was not the only student who expressed similar concerns. Travis Parker, a senior in communication, felt similarly.
“It would be useful as far as the terrorist or child abduction aspect goes,” Parker said. “But with the weather alerts, I think most people would get annoyed with the text messages that don’t affect them.”
Cell phone providers will give users the option of subscribing to the system in order to combat this issue.
The FCC mandated all carriers of the alert system must provide vibration or audio attention signals on the phones for subscribers with disabilities.
Kerri Sweatt, a junior in elementary education, could see the nationwide system being effective.
“AU Alert is really nice to have, and if they find a way to carry that over on a national level, I think it would be great for lots of people,” Sweatt said. “It makes you feel safer to know what’s going on.”
