Those wireless emergency alerts are about to get a lot more useful

When New Yorkers were interrupted this month by a cellphone alert urging them to keep a lookout for a dangerous bombing suspect, some may have found the message confusing. Why wasn't there a photo attached so that people could instantly know who to look for? Why was the alert written in clipped, abbreviated language that might look more at home in a teenager's text message?

The answer has to do with the technology behind the Wireless Emergency Alert system — which, unlike text messages, is currently limited in what information it can convey. But all that is about to change. On Thursday, federal regulators voted to approve updates to the WEA system that could make those cellphone alerts much more useful.


Source:-.washingtonpost
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The FCC is putting off a historic vote to disrupt your cable box

The Federal Communications Commission has delayed its vote on new rules that would force cable companies to provide their channels as a free app on major device platforms such as iOS and Android.

There's currently no word on when the vote may be rescheduled; FCC officials said Thursday that it would remain under consideration for future meetings.

Several people close to the matter say that late changes to the final draft offered by FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel (D) pushed back the vote.



Source:-washingtonpost
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