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WEA - Wireless Emergency Alerts to smart phones - 8/6/2013 7:40:27 PM

TheHeretic

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From: California, USA
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So last night, drifting off to sleep with the wife snuggled up close, her phone lit off with a two-tone racket we had never heard before. California had issued a statewide Amber Alert, using a new system that broadcasts to smart phones. The suspect killer and his kidnap victims weren't here, so we got our heart rates back down, and went back to sleep. (Being a cheap bastard, I bought the obsolete model when we last upgraded the phones, and it apparently isn't equipped to receive these things.)

I did a bit of checking today, and this is an automatic thing, not something you sign up for. The scoop, straight from the FCC, is at the link.

http://www.fcc.gov/guides/wireless-emergency-alerts-wea

It seems there are three types of alerts. Amber (child abductions), imminent threat, and Presidential. You can go into your settings, and turn off the Amber and imminent threat notices, but Presidential notifications cannot be blocked.

Message charges don't apply, but I'm wondering how folks might feel about this capability, how it has been implemented, and that the Feds reserve the right to text you, whether you want them to or not?

_____________________________

If you lose one sense, your other senses are enhanced.
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Post #: 1

RE: WEA - Wireless Emergency Alerts to smart phones - 8/6/2013 7:45:53 PM

pahunkboy

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From: Central Pennsylvania
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I no longer have cell phone service. and if they call my landline when I am sleeping- good luck- as I take the phone off the hook.

(in reply to TheHeretic)

Post #: 2

RE: WEA - Wireless Emergency Alerts to smart phones - 8/6/2013 7:52:26 PM

tj444

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quote:

ORIGINAL: TheHeretic
Presidential notifications cannot be blocked.

I was yammering about the possibility of being bombarded by unwanted political notifications on another thread & how I felt it could manipulate people, especially if they are sent biased propaganda.. This is even worse cuz it gives only one side that ability, only the Prez so the other party is at a great disadvantage..

Speaking about propaganda.. there are apparently 3 movies being made on Hilary in the works.. ya'll are screwed if she runs for Prez and wins.. just sayin'..

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As Anderson Cooper said “If he (Trump) took a dump on his desk, you would defend it”

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Post #: 3

RE: WEA - Wireless Emergency Alerts to smart phones - 8/6/2013 7:57:45 PM

JeffBC

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From: Canada
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quote:

ORIGINAL: TheHeretic
Message charges don't apply, but I'm wondering how folks might feel about this capability, how it has been implemented, and that the Feds reserve the right to text you, whether you want them to or not?

Fear mongering. That's what I think it is. Presidential Alerts? Seriously? ROFL.

If my phone did that to me I'd go buy a phone that didn't allow it. If I couldn't find one I'd live without a cell phone. I sure hope Canada doesn't adopt this "great idea".

_____________________________

I'm a lover of "what is", not because I'm a spiritual person, but because it hurts when I argue with reality. -- Bryon Katie
"You're humbly arrogant" -- sunshinemiss
officially a member of the K Crowd

(in reply to TheHeretic)

Post #: 4

RE: WEA - Wireless Emergency Alerts to smart phones - 8/6/2013 8:27:30 PM

Termyn8or

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Joined: 11/12/2005
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My buddy has one, they bothered us with a fucking tornado watch earlier this year.

You know, it's a fucking shame that people could not get along without this bullshit, no wonder all their 200 year old asses are dead. If they had today's technology they might be alive. Well at least until the medical industry caught up with them.....

I like my stupid phone. It's about twenty bucks a month and the phone only cost twenty bucks. I think I qualify for a freebie one from Uncle Samule, but fuck all that. I hate giving out that personal information like : NAME. ADDRESS. Shit like that.

T^T

(in reply to JeffBC)

Post #: 5

RE: WEA - Wireless Emergency Alerts to smart phones - 8/6/2013 9:05:22 PM

Zonie63

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From: The Old Pueblo
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I've gotten a few of those alerts for dust storms, but it gives you the option of turning off further alerts.

I had not heard of Presidential Alerts, though. Would that be for a nuclear attack or something like that?

(in reply to Termyn8or)

Post #: 6

RE: WEA - Wireless Emergency Alerts to smart phones - 8/6/2013 9:27:25 PM

TheHeretic

Posts: 19100
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From: California, USA
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Zonie63

I had not heard of Presidential Alerts, though. Would that be for a nuclear attack or something like that?

Some sort of national emergency - maybe they'll use it to announce the President is breaking in on the networks with a speech or something along those lines.

I'd never heard of them either, and was a bit surprised that there is no option to block them. The reason for that is clearly explained by the FCC site, though. You can't turn them off because the law says so.

_____________________________

If you lose one sense, your other senses are enhanced.
That's why people with no sense of humor have such an inflated sense of self-importance.

(in reply to Zonie63)

Post #: 7

RE: WEA - Wireless Emergency Alerts to smart phones - 8/6/2013 11:03:45 PM

Winterapple

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I think I'd be fine with weather alerts if it was serious
life threatening stuff like tornados.

Presidential Alerts? WTF? They better reserve that for a
national emergency. Like one of Pearl Harbor proportions.

Of course network television has the emergency broadcast
signal thing. I rarely watch network television and smartphones
are increasingly the information source for people so in that
light it isn't all that strange. But should you be able to have a
smartphone and be able to opt out of these alerts? Probably.

_____________________________

A thousand dreams within me softly burn.
Rimbaud

(in reply to TheHeretic)

Post #: 8

RE: WEA - Wireless Emergency Alerts to smart phones - 8/6/2013 11:09:49 PM

DesideriScuri

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quote:

ORIGINAL: tj444

quote:

ORIGINAL: TheHeretic
Presidential notifications cannot be blocked.

I was yammering about the possibility of being bombarded by unwanted political notifications on another thread & how I felt it could manipulate people, especially if they are sent biased propaganda.. This is even worse cuz it gives only one side that ability, only the Prez so the other party is at a great disadvantage..
Speaking about propaganda.. there are apparently 3 movies being made on Hilary in the works.. ya'll are screwed if she runs for Prez and wins.. just sayin'..

quote:

Can consumers block WEAs?
Partially. Participating wireless carriers may offer subscribers with WEA-capable handsets the ability to block alerts involving imminent threats to safety of life and/or AMBER Alerts; however, consumers cannot block emergency alerts issued by the President.

Emergency alerts. Emergency, not simple alerts. Campaign alerts are not Emergency alerts.

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A Conservative interpretation of the US Constitution
Personal Responsibility
Help for the truly needy
Limited Government
Consumption Tax (non-profit charities and food exempt)

(in reply to tj444)

Post #: 9

RE: WEA - Wireless Emergency Alerts to smart phones - 8/6/2013 11:33:59 PM

JeffBC

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From: Canada
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Winterapple
Presidential Alerts? WTF? They better reserve that for a national emergency. Like one of Pearl Harbor proportions.

Oh no. They'll be used to tell us important threats like that stupid threat level system they implemented whenever that was that I totally ignored. You'll get told that today is an orange alert day for terrorism so be on the lookout and keep safe.

_____________________________

I'm a lover of "what is", not because I'm a spiritual person, but because it hurts when I argue with reality. -- Bryon Katie
"You're humbly arrogant" -- sunshinemiss
officially a member of the K Crowd

(in reply to Winterapple)

Post #: 10

RE: WEA - Wireless Emergency Alerts to smart phones - 8/6/2013 11:42:05 PM

popeye1250

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From: New Hampshire
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I don't use those portable phones.

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(in reply to TheHeretic)

Post #: 11

RE: WEA - Wireless Emergency Alerts to smart phones - 8/7/2013 4:45:32 AM

pahunkboy

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From: Central Pennsylvania
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the alerts are a dumb idea.

when something important happens it goes viral. often I get news from others before it is even in the news. In fact- others accounts of the news are more accurate I find the the official news script.

(in reply to popeye1250)

Post #: 12

RE: WEA - Wireless Emergency Alerts to smart phones - 8/7/2013 4:52:26 AM

chatterbox24

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Joined: 1/22/2012
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I love the feature on mine. ITs only went off one time in 6 months, and it was during severe weather, alerting to take cover, a tornado was on the ground.

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Post #: 13

RE: WEA - Wireless Emergency Alerts to smart phones - 8/7/2013 5:06:06 AM

pahunkboy

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From: Central Pennsylvania
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You can sign up for alerts with news channels.

They stuff they send tho is riddled with nonsense. Is a steriod scandal a needed alert? The royal baby born?

Govt alerts will go on to say- dont drink and drive, wear your seat belts- and dont text and drive. Some of us- they feel - are 5 years old.

(in reply to chatterbox24)

Post #: 14

RE: WEA - Wireless Emergency Alerts to smart phones - 8/7/2013 5:38:55 AM

freedomdwarf1

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Joined: 10/23/2012
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FR~

I have a bog-standard clam-style mobile phone.
It's not a smart phone either.
It sends & receives text and calls. That's all I want it for.
It can go on the internet but I don't bother.
Why should I squint at the small screen when I have proper PC with a 24" widescreen??

Everyone I know of that has had a 'smart' phone has either died, not worked properly, cracked or broken the screen.
They are too fragile for sensible use - even with a hard case.
Mine has been dropped on the pavement countless times, in puddles, in the mud, run over by a truck and a fork-lift.
It still works fine and I can't get these stupid RSS feeds or alerts.
That works for me

You can keep your 'smart' phones!

(in reply to pahunkboy)

Post #: 15

RE: WEA - Wireless Emergency Alerts to smart phones - 8/7/2013 5:43:46 AM

jlf1961

Posts: 14840
Joined: 6/10/2008
From: Somewhere Texas
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First, depending on the internet for news is a bit like depending on a broken watch for time. It is right twice a day, the other 23hours 58 minutes it is wrong.

A couple of years ago, on this very board, a poster posted "news" about a Texas ranch near Del Rio Texas being taken over by Mexican drug lords. There was an ongoing gun fight between the drug cartel and the local sheriff.

Citing a reliable source, from the internet, which happened to be a website based in Arizona I believe, he swore it was actually happening in real time.

Strangely enough, the Sheriff department in Del Rio knew nothing of the gun fight, and had been inundated with calls from news agencies, (other than the local tv and radio stations) and concerned individuals with family and friends in the area.

The entire incident never happened.

Now on this WEA system, in one respect it is a good thing, I mean for amber alerts and things along those lines. Presidential Alerts is another matter. The EAS system is still in use for weather alerts, and other emergencies like terrorist attacks and Godzilla rampaging through NYC or Jersey.

And in the case of nuclear war, unless I am on vacation or up at my other property, I will know about it a millisecond before the blast wave hits my house, then I wont care at all.

_____________________________

Boy, it sure would be nice if we had some grenades, don't you think?

You cannot control who comes into your life, but you can control which airlock you throw them out of.

Paranoid Paramilitary Gun Loving Conspiracy Theorist AND EQUAL OPPORTUNI

(in reply to pahunkboy)

Post #: 16

RE: WEA - Wireless Emergency Alerts to smart phones - 8/7/2013 5:58:55 AM

tj444

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quote:

ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

I'd never heard of them either, and was a bit surprised that there is no option to block them. The reason for that is clearly explained by the FCC site, though. You can't turn them off because the law says so.

I have a blackberry and I cant even block unwanted texts myself..

The only reason I keep it is cuz I like my emails coming thru instead of me logging in myself all the time... I so rarely use it as a phone, once in a while.. I actually prefer using skype phone cuz my cell would cut off too often in some places I have been..

_____________________________

As Anderson Cooper said “If he (Trump) took a dump on his desk, you would defend it”

(in reply to TheHeretic)

Post #: 17

RE: WEA - Wireless Emergency Alerts to smart phones - 8/7/2013 6:29:33 AM

jlf1961

Posts: 14840
Joined: 6/10/2008
From: Somewhere Texas
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I got a cheap ATT blackberry style phone simply because my well meaning and overly concerned (NSA on a budget) family like to be able to reach me when I leave the house.

I have yet to get one of these alerts, over the phone anyway, I get state wide amber alerts through my email, which comes to the phone, not to mention some brilliant bureaucrat decided that we needed a few of those "smart" signs on the highways approaching town. I mean it is not like this is DFW or Houston, the population here is 116000, and dropping.

_____________________________

Boy, it sure would be nice if we had some grenades, don't you think?

You cannot control who comes into your life, but you can control which airlock you throw them out of.

Paranoid Paramilitary Gun Loving Conspiracy Theorist AND EQUAL OPPORTUNI

(in reply to tj444)

Post #: 18

RE: WEA - Wireless Emergency Alerts to smart phones - 8/7/2013 6:51:05 AM

Real0ne

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Joined: 10/25/2004
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: JeffBC

quote:

ORIGINAL: TheHeretic
Message charges don't apply, but I'm wondering how folks might feel about this capability, how it has been implemented, and that the Feds reserve the right to text you, whether you want them to or not?

Fear mongering. That's what I think it is. Presidential Alerts? Seriously? ROFL.

If my phone did that to me I'd go buy a phone that didn't allow it. If I couldn't find one I'd live without a cell phone. I sure hope Canada doesn't adopt this "great idea".

might have a tcpa violation, get some money!

ok took a second look, interesting, emergency apparently can be from any one or any agency.

yer fucked!

I posted a constitutional thread showing how easy it is to change this sort of thing.

I am sure there is a method to beat that in court but who the hell is going to do it, but like you said they exempted themselves! Same shit the King did that drove people away 200 years ago. LMAO

No fucking money in suing.

yer fucked. lol

< Message edited by Real0ne -- 8/7/2013 7:01:59 AM >

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(in reply to JeffBC)

Post #: 19

RE: WEA - Wireless Emergency Alerts to smart phones - 8/7/2013 7:52:47 AM

pahunkboy

Posts: 33061
Joined: 2/26/2006
From: Central Pennsylvania
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A cell phone with no service can still get 911 to get a tow truck. However since I got a newer car- I dont bother.

(in reply to Real0ne)

Post #: 20

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