Link to an amendment published at 88 FR 86837, Dec. 15, 2023. Link to an amendment published at 88 FR 86837, Dec. 15, 2023.

WEA mobile device functionality is dependent on the capabilities of a Participating CMS Provider's delivery technologies. Mobile devices are required to perform the following functions:

(a) Authentication of interactions with CMS Provider infrastructure.

(b) Monitoring for Alert Messages.

(c) Maintaining subscriber alert opt-out selections, if any.

(d) Maintaining subscriber alert language preferences, if any.

(e) Extraction of alert content in English or the subscriber's preferred language, if applicable.

(f) Presentation of alert content to the device, consistent with subscriber opt-out selections. National Alerts must always be presented.

(g) Detection and suppression of presentation of duplicate alerts.

(h) Preservation of Alert Messages in a consumer-accessible format and location for at least 24 hours or until deleted by the subscriber.

[73 FR 43117, July 24, 2008, as amended at 78 FR 16808, Mar. 19, 2013; 83 FR 8623, Feb. 28, 2018; 86 FR 46790, Aug. 20, 2021]

Devices marketed for public use under part 10 must present an Alert Message as soon as they receive it, but may not enable an Alert Message to preempt an active voice or data session. If a mobile device receives a WEA Alert Message during an active voice or data session, the user may be given the option to control how the Alert Message is presented on the mobile device with respect to the use of the common vibration cadence and audio attention signal.

[81 FR 75726, Nov. 1, 2016]

A Participating CMS Provider and equipment manufacturers may only market devices for public use under part 10 that include an audio attention signal that meets the requirements of this section.

(a) The audio attention signal must have a temporal pattern of one long tone of two (2) seconds, followed by two short tones of one (1) second each, with a half (0.5) second interval between each tone. The entire sequence must be repeated twice with a half (0.5) second interval between each repetition.

(b) For devices that have polyphonic capabilities, the audio attention signal must consist of the fundamental frequencies of 853 Hz and 960 Hz transmitted simultaneously.

(c) For devices with only a monophonic capability, the audio attention signal must be 960 Hz.

(d)(1) No person may transmit or cause to transmit the WEA common audio attention signal, or a recording or simulation thereof, in any circumstance other than in an actual National, State or Local Area emergency or authorized test, except as designed and used for Public Service Announcements (PSAs) by federal, state, local, tribal and territorial entities, and non-governmental organizations in coordination with those entities, to raise public awareness about emergency alerting, provided that the entity presents the PSA in a non-misleading manner, including by explicitly stating that the emergency alerting attention signal is being used in the context of a PSA for the purpose of educating the viewing or listening public about emergency alerting.

(2) If the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or a State, local, Tribal, or territorial government entity becomes aware of transmission of a WEA false alert to the public, they are encouraged to send an email to the Commission at the FCC Ops Center at [email protected], informing the Commission of the event and of any details that they may have concerning the event.

(e) A device may include the capability to mute the audio attention signal.

[73 FR 43117, July 24, 2008, as amended at 81 FR 75727, Nov. 1, 2016; 86 FR 46790, Aug. 20, 2021; 87 FR 34213, June 6, 2022]

A Participating CMS Provider and equipment manufacturers may only market devices for public use under part 10 that include a vibration cadence capability that meets the requirements of this section.

(a) The vibration cadence must have a temporal pattern of one long vibration of two (2) seconds, followed by two short vibrations of one (1) second each, with a half (0.5) second interval between each vibration. The entire sequence must be repeated twice with a half (0.5) second interval between each repetition.

(b) The vibration cadence must be restricted to use for Alert Messages under part 10.

(c) A device may include the capability to mute the vibration cadence.