for californians AB 2231 Emergency alerts

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Paul Saffo <paul () saffo com>
Date: March 31, 2006 12:19:57 AM EST
To: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Subject: (For IP) AB 2231 Emergency alerts

Dave-
I am writing this on behalf of Tamara Odisho  
( Tamara.Odisho () asm ca gov ), a Legislative Aide to Assemblymember  
Fran Pavley. Pavley has introduced a bill ( http://leginfo.ca.gov/pub/ 
bill/asm/ab_2201-2250/ab_2231_bill_20060222_introduced.html ) to the  
California Legislature, proposing that cell providers be required to  
provide customers with text alerts in the event of a severe emergency  
such as a flood or wildfire.

It turns out that the cellular companies oppose the bill and are  
likely to lobby against it. The stated reasons for opposition are:
1- This should be left to the FCC to implement a plan at the national  
level.  (Ha! If California had followed this logic, we would never  
have forced the auto industry to clean up its emissions act!)
2- Requiring the cell phone companies to send out state-wide  
emergency text-messages would jam the system, and therefore not reach  
all their customers
3- The cell cos don't want to pay the cost of sending out the messages.

Tamara and her colleagues have several  questions, and would love  
feedback from anyone who might have advice/suggestions.  Here are her  
questions (note that I have not edited them as I am merely a conduit):
1.     Can wireless companies’ infrastructure handle such a statewide  
text-message emergency alert? In other words, will this jam up the  
system?

2.     Do wireless providers have the technology to area specify the  
emergency alerts, ie, if there’s an earthquake in Los Angeles, would  
wireless providers be able to only send out the text message to Los  
Angeles residents?

3.     Are technological capabilities available to broadcast the text  
message to a certain area/region and send the message to providers  
not registered in that area code, ie Thailand tsunami had vacationers  
from all over the world, if an emergency alert was sent out, would  
all vacationers be able to receive the message?

 4.     If a wireless company sends out the alert, would they be  
limited to a specific number of characters?

 5.     If necessary, would text message be able to be delivered in  
multiple languages?
 6.     Do you have an estimated cost to the providers of what this  
type of implementation system would cost the providers?

Anyone who has suggestions should feel free to contact Tamara  
directly at Tamara.Odisho () asm ca gov , or if you prefer, email me and  
I will pass your comments on.

best
-p








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