Phone Alerts Go Multilingual: 14 Languages Plus Sign Language
Published Date: 1/20/2026
Rule
Summary
Starting June 12, 2028, mobile providers must send Wireless Emergency Alerts in English plus 13 other common U.S. languages and American Sign Language. These alerts will use special templates with key details like agency name, location, and end time, making emergency info clearer and easier to understand. This update affects phone companies and helps everyone get important alerts faster and in their language, with no big cost changes.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
WEA in 13 Languages plus ASL
Starting June 12, 2028, participating mobile providers must send Wireless Emergency Alerts in English plus the next thirteen most commonly spoken written U.S. languages and American Sign Language (ASL). Providers must support the pre-scripted templates for eighteen emergency events and include four fillable fields (sending agency name, location, expected end time, and an optional URL); when a non-English template is sent, the corresponding English message must display after the non-English message.
Compliance Burden on Mobile Providers
The FCC estimates 1,253 respondents and 5,176 responses with an estimated time per response of 0.50 to 12 hours, a total annual burden of 106,943 hours, and a total annual cost of $7,050,800 associated with implementing the WEA information collection changes (OMB Control Number 3060-1113). OMB approved the change on January 12, 2026.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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