The Federal Communications Commission has implemented recommendations from the Department of Homeland Security‘s science and technology directorate in the FCC’s wireless emergency alerts platform in an effort to update that system.
The WEA Report and Order has adopted the directorate’s recommendations on message effectiveness, increased character length, addition of URL links, pictures and videos to the alerts and employment of new technology to support geo-targeting functions, DHS said Monday.
DHS has financed academic research programs since 2012 to help advance WEA technology with plans to fund new studies to help address potential public and communication technology requirements.
“It’s essential that as technology and people’s perception and use of technology changes, the systems used to alert the public keep pace with these changes,†said Denis Gusty, WEA program manager at DHS S&T’s first responders group.
“We must continue to research the behavior of why people react one way or another after receiving an alert, especially when it comes to flooding,” he added.
