Delays in Wireless Emergency Alerts: A Lingering Concern
In a rapidly diversifying America, the ability to communicate emergency alerts in multiple languages is not just a convenience but a necessity. Yet, despite a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) decision two years ago mandating alerts in 13 languages plus American Sign Language, the implementation remains stalled.
False evacuation alerts went out to millions of people during the Los Angeles wildfires earlier this year. However, people who speak a language other than English and Spanish may not have understood what was happening.
Chris Delmas/AFP
Chris Delmas/AFP
The FCC’s 2021 mandate aimed to extend wireless emergency alerts to the top 13 languages spoken in the U.S., in addition to English and Spanish. This decision, however, has yet to be operationalized, leaving a significant portion of the population at risk during emergencies.
California Congresswoman Nanette Barragán and various nonprofits highlight the lack of progress, which they attribute to procedural delays initiated during the Trump administration. An executive order titled “Regulatory Freeze Pending Review” is cited as a possible reason for the hold-up, requiring approvals from specific officials before moving forward.
Despite the FCC’s approval of the multilingual alerts, the report and order necessary to enforce the changes remain unpublished. This delay affects wireless carriers like AT&T and Verizon, who must update their systems once the order is formalized.
During a severe wildfire event in Los Angeles, ineffective communication was evident. A UCLA study revealed that over 12,000 Asian Americans in evacuation zones were unable to comprehend the alerts due to language barriers.
“Among Asian Americans, we find a huge diversity in languages,” states Paul Ong, a UCLA study author. The need for multilingual alerts was starkly highlighted by the communication challenges during these emergencies.
The Warning Alert And Response Network (WARN) Act of 2006 empowers the FCC to establish standards for emergency alerts. However, implementing these standards in multiple languages remains stalled, much to the concern of affected communities and advocacy groups.
The Congressional Hispanic, Asian Pacific American, and Black caucuses have urged the FCC to expedite the publication of the report and order. “Failing to implement this rule means denying millions of Americans access to potentially life-saving emergency alerts,” they wrote in a May 26 letter to FCC Chair Brendan Carr.
With climate events like wildfires and hurricanes becoming more frequent and severe, the urgency for a multilingual alert system is clear. “The language that any individual speaks really shouldn’t keep them from receiving necessary information to keep their families safe,” says Manjusha Kulkarni of the AAPI Equity Alliance.
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