New National Alert System in the US

[Coito ergo sum]

I applaud this program. Use the technology we have and get information out quickly. If there is an emergency, every cell phone can be notified in minutes by text page and inform millions of people what action they need to take immediately. Say, a tsunami warning in the Pacific Northwest - all they need to do is say, "ALERT: Tsunami imminent. Proceed inland immediately." And, it could save hundreds or thousands of lives.

NEW YORK, (CBSNewYork/AP) – A new national alert system is set to begin in New York City that will alert the public to emergencies via cell phones.
The announcement of the new emergency alert system came Monday in the wake of Osama bin Laden’s death and an uptick in security and safety concerns around New York City.
The Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Emergency Management Agency said the system will warn people about terrorist attacks, natural disasters or other emergencies.

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/05/10/ ... ch-in-nyc/

Looks like it's presently limited to NYC, but there is no reason this can't be national.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Damn Washington government tryin' to take away more states' rights? My cousin Leroy makes his livin' waitin' to push that there button that sets off the sireens. No damn Federals are gonna come in here and take his job away from him!

[Coito ergo sum]

Damn Washington government tryin' to take away more states' rights? My cousin Leroy makes his livin' waitin' to push that there button that sets off the sireens. No damn Federals are gonna come in here and take his job away from him!

It's not taking anything away. Cousin Leroy can still push his button, and hop on his horse and ride back into town....

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Damn Washington government tryin' to take away more states' rights? My cousin Leroy makes his livin' waitin' to push that there button that sets off the sireens. No damn Federals are gonna come in here and take his job away from him!

It's not taking anything away. Cousin Leroy can still push his button, and hop on his horse and ride back into town....

He don't done none of them new-fangled "cell phones". Every time he hears "cell" and "phone" together he starts trying to remember the number to his bail bondsman.

[Coito ergo sum]

Damn Washington government tryin' to take away more states' rights? My cousin Leroy makes his livin' waitin' to push that there button that sets off the sireens. No damn Federals are gonna come in here and take his job away from him!

It's not taking anything away. Cousin Leroy can still push his button, and hop on his horse and ride back into town....

He don't done none of them new-fangled "cell phones". Every time he hears "cell" and "phone" together he starts trying to remember the number to his bail bondsman.

I thought he just used two Dixie cups connected by a string. LOL

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Damn Washington government tryin' to take away more states' rights? My cousin Leroy makes his livin' waitin' to push that there button that sets off the sireens. No damn Federals are gonna come in here and take his job away from him!

It's not taking anything away. Cousin Leroy can still push his button, and hop on his horse and ride back into town....

He don't done none of them new-fangled "cell phones". Every time he hears "cell" and "phone" together he starts trying to remember the number to his bail bondsman.

I thought he just used two Dixie cups connected by a string. LOL

Nah, he holler's out thu winder at his old lady. That's her signal to take the curtain climbers and head fur the e-mer-gen-cy shelter. It's a '58 Chevy Impala. He got it cheap and he's gonna fix 'er up and sell her on E-bay when he gets a computer. And 'lectricity.

[Seth]

I applaud this program. Use the technology we have and get information out quickly. If there is an emergency, every cell phone can be notified in minutes by text page and inform millions of people what action they need to take immediately. Say, a tsunami warning in the Pacific Northwest - all they need to do is say, "ALERT: Tsunami imminent. Proceed inland immediately." And, it could save hundreds or thousands of lives.

NEW YORK, (CBSNewYork/AP) – A new national alert system is set to begin in New York City that will alert the public to emergencies via cell phones.
The announcement of the new emergency alert system came Monday in the wake of Osama bin Laden’s death and an uptick in security and safety concerns around New York City.
The Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Emergency Management Agency said the system will warn people about terrorist attacks, natural disasters or other emergencies.

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/05/10/ ... ch-in-nyc/

Looks like it's presently limited to NYC, but there is no reason this can't be national.

Provided you get to sign up and opt out, no problem. But I don't want the government co-opting my private communication device/network for it's own use, thanks very much. We already have an "Emergency Broadcast System," and we don't need the government intruding into the cell phone networks, because if it has authority to send one kind of message, it can send other messages, like propaganda messages.

Leave my cell phone alone, thanks.

And imagine the chaos if the system is hacked and false messages are sent out en masse. It could cause a panic that's worse than the purported disaster.

Bad, really bad idea.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Please, opt out.

[Azathoth]

Looks like a handy way to assemble a nice big database of people via the back door to me

[MrJonno]

The atmosphere including radio waves that pass through it are shared resourced so quite reasonable for the government (ie the people) to regulate it in any way they see fit

[Seth]

The atmosphere including radio waves that pass through it are shared resourced so quite reasonable for the government (ie the people) to regulate it in any way they see fit

Except that government SOLD that radio spectrum to private companies, so it's no longer a "shared resource."

[Gallstones]

I applaud this program. Use the technology we have and get information out quickly. If there is an emergency, every cell phone can be notified in minutes by text page and inform millions of people what action they need to take immediately. Say, a tsunami warning in the Pacific Northwest - all they need to do is say, "ALERT: Tsunami imminent. Proceed inland immediately." And, it could save hundreds or thousands of lives.

NEW YORK, (CBSNewYork/AP) – A new national alert system is set to begin in New York City that will alert the public to emergencies via cell phones.
The announcement of the new emergency alert system came Monday in the wake of Osama bin Laden’s death and an uptick in security and safety concerns around New York City.
The Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Emergency Management Agency said the system will warn people about terrorist attacks, natural disasters or other emergencies.

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/05/10/ ... ch-in-nyc/

Looks like it's presently limited to NYC, but there is no reason this can't be national.

Provided you get to sign up and opt out, no problem. But I don't want the government co-opting my private communication device/network for it's own use, thanks very much. We already have an "Emergency Broadcast System," and we don't need the government intruding into the cell phone networks, because if it has authority to send one kind of message, it can send other messages, like propaganda messages.

Leave my cell phone alone, thanks.

And imagine the chaos if the system is hacked and false messages are sent out en masse. It could cause a panic that's worse than the purported disaster.

Bad, really bad idea.

I am in agreement with Seth on this one.

[Coito ergo sum]

I'm good with it. I don't think there should be a sign up. I think the government should just have a database of cell phone numbers with no indication of who they belong to. As a phone company issues a cell phone number, they just add it to the list. Then when there is an emergency need, like the emergency broadcast system, they can send out necessary information. There is no need to personally identify the phone numbers.

I am far more likely to have my cell phone on me than to be watching t.v. or listening to the radio during an emergency. I would welcome a quick text telling me to take steps to avoid the next hurricane, or that a bomb just went off in my city.

On the list of intrusions....this one is way down on the list.

[MrJonno]

The atmosphere including radio waves that pass through it are shared resourced so quite reasonable for the government (ie the people) to regulate it in any way they see fit

Except that government SOLD that radio spectrum to private companies, so it's no longer a "shared resource."

So its private property and you can do whatever you want with it!, only in planet Libertarian is this true, even America isnt that yet

[Seth]

The atmosphere including radio waves that pass through it are shared resourced so quite reasonable for the government (ie the people) to regulate it in any way they see fit

Except that government SOLD that radio spectrum to private companies, so it's no longer a "shared resource."

So its private property and you can do whatever you want with it!, only in planet Libertarian is this true, even America isnt that yet

Actually, pretty much yes. If you bought a segment of the spectrum, subject to technical requirements to prevent interference with other frequencies, you can do what you want with the spectrum. That's why you can get porn on satellite, but not on broadcast TV, and why radio-link internet (like WiFi) is not subject to FCC jurisdiction.