Sprint Becomes First U.S. Carrier to Launch Wireless Emergency Alerts on its Mobile Network
Sprint Press Release
Wireless Emergency Alerts allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to accept and deliver warning messages to wireless networks from the president of the United States, the National Weather Service and state and local emergency operations centers. Sprint customers will be able to effectively and accurately receive warnings and safety information via text alerts to mobile phones that are equipped with the enabling software and based on their geographic location.
Later this year, Sprint will conduct the nation’s first test of Wireless Emergency Alerts in New York City, along with the New York City Office of Emergency Management, the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate, and FEMA. The test will deliver a series of different geo-targeted wireless alerts to multiple Sprint mobile phones strategically located in Brooklyn, The Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island.
“Providing immediate, reliable wireless communications before, during and following an emergency situation is trademark of Sprint’s service,” said Steve Elfman, Sprint president of Network Operations and Wholesale. “Sprint is proud to be the first wireless carrier in the U.S. to offer this service, and we look forward to testing this critical service in a city that is the epicenter of our nation’s financial, media and fashion markets.”The availability of Wireless Emergency Alerts on Sprint’s network is the result of the Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) – a national program established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to the Warning, Alert and Response Act passed by Congress in 2006.
Earlier this year, Sprint joined the FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and FEMA agency administrator W. Craig Fugate in committing to the deployment of a wireless emergency alert system.
In the fall of 2010, Sprint became the first national wireless carrier to successfully perform a trial of the wireless emergency alerts technology with the California Emergency Management Agency and the San Diego County Office of Emergency Services. The trial, which took place in October 2010 through late November 2010, tested the wireless emergency alert technology across urban, suburban and rural areas; included the involvement of law enforcement agencies, local jurisdictions and other regional partners; and assessed factors related to messaging delivery, length and recipient location.
During the next year, Sprint will continue working with FEMA, DHS, and numerous state and local emergency agencies to successfully make the alerts available nationwide.
