Opt out of FEMA presidential alerts? You can’t, and here’s why that’s legal

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has been telling us for a while now that it plans to conduct a national test of the Wireless Emergency Alerts , specifically the "Presidential Alerts" that are part of the established WEA system. Despite the fact that we've been warned multiple times about the test, many cell-phone users will likely be startled today at 2:18 p.m. ET when the testing begins, as millions of cell phones will receive a text message with an ominous header reading "Presidential Alert."

FEMA to test ‘presidential alert’ text in two weeks. Here’s what you need to know

President Donald Trump shakes hands with FEMA Administrator Brock Long after visiting areas in North Carolina and South Carolina impacted by Hurricane Florence, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018, at Myrtle Beach International Airport in Myrtle Beach, S.C. SALT LAKE CITY - Everyone in America with a cellphone will receive the same text message on the same day next month.

Emergency alert test delayed due to Hurricane Florence

The test of the emergency alert system, scheduled to be sent by President Trump on September 20, has been delayed to October 3. The alert is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's system to warn the public in cases of emergency, such as dangerous weather, and missing children. It will be sent to the majority of cell phones in the US with the header "Presidential Alert" and the message, "THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System.

During Preparedness Month, Chicago Oemc Reminds the Public About the…

As part of Chicago's National Preparedness Month activities, the Office of Emergency Management and Communications is reminding the residents about a critical test intended to ensure public safety officials have the methods and systems in place to deliver urgent alerts and warnings to the public in times of an emergency or disaster. On the afternoon of Thursday, September 20, 2018, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission , will conduct a nationwide test of Wireless Emergency Alert and Emergency Alert System .

‘Presidential Alert’: FEMA to test emergency alert system next week

You'll soon be getting a message on your phone from the President of the United States - whether you are a supporter or not. It's not a political message, but an emergency test message sent from President Donald Trump as part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's system to warn the public in cases of national emergencies.

Trump administration to send U.S. cellphones a test alert on Thursday

U.S. President Donald Trump addresses a reception for Congressional Medal of Honor recipients in the East Room of the White House in Washing WASHINGTON - The Trump administration will send a test message to all U.S. cellphones on Thursday for a new alert system that aims to warn the public about national emergencies. The messages will bear the headline "Presidential Alert", the Federal Emergency Management Agency , which will send the message, said in a statement earlier this week.

Despite 2017 hurricane season, US lacks ‘culture of preparedness,’ says FEMA administrator

The approaching danger presented by Hurricane Florence and the damage caused by Tropical Storm Gordon serve as reminders that September is the most active month for these kinds of powerful storms. And yet, FEMA Administrator Brock Long has warned that the United States doesn't have a "culture of preparedness,'' even after being hammered in 2017 by Harvey, Irma and Maria, the first time three Category 4 hurricanes made landfall in U.S. territory on the same year.

EU fines Google $5 billion over mobile practices

European regulators came down hard on another U.S. tech giant Wednesday, fining Google a record $5 billion for forcing cellphone makers that use the company's Android operating system to install Google search and browser apps. While Google can easily afford the fine, the ruling could undermine the company's business model, which relies on giving away its operating system in return for opportunities to sell ads and other products.

How Carriers Get Permission to Share Your Location

Cellphone carriers usually ask for their customers' blessing before listing their phone numbers, sharing their addresses or exposing them to promotional emails. But seeking permission to share one particularly sensitive piece of information-a cellphone's current location-often falls to one of several dozen third-party companies like Securus Inc. and 3Cinteractive Corp. rely on those firms to vouch that they obtained users' consent before handing over the data.

Bus line employee tells passengers they have to be Americans to ride

A bus company employee in Maine told a group of passengers they had to be US citizens in order to ride a bus after an officer from US Customs and Border Protection inquired about their citizenship. The incident, which happened on Memorial Day in Bangor, was captured in cell phone video recorded by a Massachusetts man, Alec Larson He was asked about his citizenship at the bus terminal as he and his girlfriend were boarding a Concord Coach Lines bus for the trip home to Boston.

We have always been at war for Net Neutrality

In 2015, the Federal Communications Commission adopted historic Internet rules , when the Democratic-led commission approved 3-to-2, split along party lines, to assert extra government authority over the Internet and permitted enforcement of net neutrality rules that would prevent Internet providers-including cellular carriers-from blocking or throttling traffic or giving priority to Web services in exchange for payment . That came to an end on Monday, June 11, 2018 , following another FCC vote, split on party lines again , but breaking for the GOP.