About
Connect with AWARE
Touchstone Consulting Group - An SRA Company
As we mentioned in a recent article, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that wireless carriers not fully opted into the Commercial Mobile Alert Service (CMAS, also known as Wireless Emergency Alerts, or WEA) must notify their customers of this status by May 15, 2012–about five weeks after the April 7th initial rollout of CMAS.
On the other hand, those carriers who have decided to carry CMAS messages are beginning to notify their customers of their status in a variety of ways. Continue reading »
The National EAS test and recent CMAS testing have brought the spotlight on the FEMA Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) program from the public and Congress alike. On December 6, 2011, Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) introduced H.R. 3563, the Integrated Public Alert Warning System Modernization Act of 2011. Also, recent statements from Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) indicate her plans to introduce legislation in the Senate soon.
While the path to enacting legislation is not yet certain and the exact language is by no means written in stone, this activity draws attention to the need for the IPAWS program to be formally authorized. Continue reading »
This article is part 2 in a series dispelling common myths and misconceptions about the Commercial Mobile Alert Service (CMAS)–also known as Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)–that we have heard from the public, public safety practitioners, the wireless communications industry, and local, state, and Federal officials. In a previous post, we discussed concerns about tracking chips (there aren’t any), demands on cell networks (CMAS messages won’t be impacted), charges for CMAS messages (there’s no charge), and more. This article tackles another set of common myths we have heard about CMAS. Continue reading »
Last week, Verizon Wireless conducted a large-scale test of the Commercial Mobile Alert Service (CMAS, also known as Wireless Emergency Alerts, or WEA). As we approach the deployment of CMAS in April 2012, more testing of this system is likely to occur. Customers should understand that any CMAS messages they receive are only a test. However, mobile customers will surely be looking for additional information on CMAS if and when they receive a message.
If you do receive a message and would like to learn more, we recommend first contacting your wireless carrier’s customer service line. The carriers will have the most accurate information about testing, and the customer service representatives are likely trained in responding to these questions. Continue reading »
In our conversations about the Commercial Mobile Alert Service (CMAS) with the general public, public safety officials, the wireless communications industry, and local, state, and Federal Government staffers, we’ve heard about many of the myths and misconceptions that exist about CMAS – how it works, who is running it, and what members of the public will see once CMAS is deployed in April 2012. (We reported last week on some large-scale testing of CMAS, which sparked fears and confusion about this new system based on inaccurate information.)
This post is the first of two addressing some common myths and misconceptions about CMAS. Stay tuned for the second post, which will discuss another five aspects of CMAS commonly misunderstood. Continue reading »
