Yesterday, the FCC released a Second Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS). CMAS is a congressionally-established system through which cell phone users may receive targeted urgent messages notifying of an emergency. The order adopted one of the remaining priorities on this issue, as all other TIA priorities have been previously adopted by the FCC. Consistent with TIA’s views, cell phone service providers are not required to send test messages to cell phone users. TIA has long contested that such testing would alarm users and strain networks.

Prior to the FCC adopting CMAS rules, TIA was actively involved in the Commercial Mobile Service Alert Advisory Committee (CMSAAC), which recommended implementation of the CMAS. CMSAAC agreed with TIA on not requiring service providers to test the CMAS with cell phone users. On April 9, 2008, the FCC reviewed the CMSAAC recommendations as well as TIA’s priorities, and adopted almost all of them. However, due to the absence of a federal agency volunteering to serve as the Alert Aggregator/Gateway, the FCC did not prohibit user-based testing as supported by TIA and the CMSAAC. On May 30, FEMA volunteered to serve as the Alert Aggregator/Gateway, and TIA felt the time was right to support FCC creation of CMAS testing rules which prohibited involving cell phone users in CMAS testing. On June 19, TIA sent comments to the FCC on this, noting that such testing would unnecessarily strain networks and alarm cell phone users.

The July 8 order finalized the testing rules, which allow service providers to determine whether or not they will involve cell phone users in CMAS message testing. Should providers choose not to make the required monthly test messages available to cell phone users, service providers must find alternate methods of ensuring CMAS messages will be received by users. TIA appreciates the FCC stating that FEMA will serve the Alert Gateway role and subsequently develop testing rules for CMAS. TIA also lauds the FCC for not requiring that CMAS test messages be sent to cell phone users.

TIA’s main priority on this issue is to ensure that CMAS test messages do not alarm cell phone users or strain networks. This is consistent with CMSAAC’s views, in which TIA was an active member. Thus, as carriers now have the option to use non-user-based testing methods, TIA hopes they will do so. However, TIA also wants to work with interested parties, including FEMA and the FCC, to ensure that any user-based CMAS test message methods that carriers may employ do not alarm consumers or strain networks. For further information, contact Patrick Sullivan at TIA, email psullivan@tiaonline.org or phone +1.202.346.3244.

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