FEMA to test 'Presidential Alert' system next week

["Dave Farber" <farber () gmail com>]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Richard Forno <rforno () infowarrior org>
> Date: September 16, 2018 at 4:33:23 AM GMT+9
> To: infowarrior list <infowarrior () attrition org>
> Cc: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
> Subject: FEMA to test 'Presidential Alert' system next week
>
> (Per FEMA the WEA portion of the test commences at 2:18 p.m. EDT, and the EAS portion follows at 2:20 p.m.  The cynic 
> in me hopes it won't be abused by attention-seeking politicians who can't resist an audience.    --rick)
>
> FEMA to test 'Presidential Alert' system next week
>
> Experts expressed little concern that the wireless emergency alerts could be used for political purposes.
> by Dennis Romero / Sep.14.2018 / 8:35 PM ET
> https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fema-test-presidential-alert-system-next-week-n909816?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma
>
> Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump listens to his mobile phone during a lunch stop, in North Charleston, 
> S.C. on Feb. 18, 2016.Matt Rourke / AP file
>
> President Donald Trump may soon be communicating with you directly on your phone — even if you don't follow him on 
> Twitter.
>
> Next Thursday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will do its first test of a system that allows the president 
> to send a message to most U.S. cellphones.
>
> More than 100 mobile carriers, including all the major wireless firms, are participating in the roll out, FEMA stated 
> in a message on its website posted Thursday.
>
> "The EAS [Emergency Alert System] is a national public warning system that provides the President with the 
> communications capability to address the nation during a national emergency," FEMA said.
>
> The test message will have a header that reads "Presidential Alert," according to the agency.
>
> Users whose phones are on will twice hear a tone and vibration and then see an English-only (for now) message: "THIS 
> IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
>
> The wireless emergency alerts (WEA) system was authorized by Congress in 2015 under a law that states the "system 
> shall not be used to transmit a message that does not relate to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other 
> man-made disaster or threat to public safety."
>
> Experts didn't appear to be too concerned that Trump, known to use his smartphone to blast opponents, berate 
> subordinates and take shots at the news media on Twitter, could abuse WEA.
>
> "If you separate this from the politics and personality of any individual president then this is a great idea and an 
> amazing use of technology to reach everybody if they’re in harms way," said Karen North, director of the Annenberg 
> Digital Social Media program at the University of Southern California.
>
> UCLA communications professor Tim Groeling agreed, writing via email, "broadcast-based emergency alert systems ... 
> have remained professional and impartial over decades."
>
> The WEA is a new way to reach an America increasingly attracted to fragmented forms of media found on phones, tablets 
> and laptops. The well-worn emergency alert system reaches mainly radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, 
> satellite radio and television providers.
>
> "A system like this seems necessary in an era where most people are disconnected from 'live' media like radio and 
> television," Groeling said.
>
> FEMA stated that the government cannot track end users' location through this alert system.
>
> The test is supposed to take place at 2:18 p.m. EDT on Sept. 20. Under the Warning, Alert, and Response Network 
> (WARN) Act of 2006, cellphone users cannot opt out of the presidential alerts.



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