DHS to Send Widespread Alerts 265
MarsGov writes "The Department of Homeland Security is gearing up to be able to periodic test 'alerts' to cable television stations, satellite radio, as well as any text-capable device — PDAs, cell phones, and web sites." From the article: Some glitches remain as telephone companies and other networks grapple with potentially trying to alert all of their customers at the same time without jamming their systems, Lawson said. But the alerts could be transmitted by text messages, audio recordings, video or graphics, he said, opening the possibility of sending out additional detailed information to specific sectors, like hospitals or emergency responders."
Re:Cool, but... (Score:2, Informative)
SURPRISE! The DHS & NSA (& CIA, FBI, DEA) already have your phone numbers!
Read the previous Slashdot articleshttp://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/05/11/1
http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/06/20/1
http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/06/02/1
-- phone companies have been giving over records and access to logs to the NSA, if not access stream of converstion itself, and acc. to the agencies, they routinely SHARE all secret intelligence information that they can with each other-- FBI, DEA, etc. It doesn't really matter WHAT the first agency used as a justification once info is SHARED with another agency either.
InfoportWRONG - they have been abused. (Score:4, Informative)
I spent 5 days on the road for no good f******* reason.
That's abuse of power.
Re:kind of scary (Score:4, Informative)
I've been on the the CERT [us-cert.gov] lists (and the Old system [cert.org] for 9 years now, and they have never abused the system to my knowledge. Granted, CERT is only for computers, but it is similar to some of the new proposed lists.
I also signed up for the Safe Community Alert Network [scanusa.com], which is some sort of private-public partnership between SBC/ATT & various other organizations. Various government State, County & City agencies in California have referred me to ScanUSA.
ScanUSA does send me Amber Alerts, notifications about nearby fires, etc. However some of those Amber Alerts & Fire Alerts are from San Diego, which is 500 miles from me. Not very relevant.
The vast majority of the messages have been spam-ish -- I got notifications about the COPS [www.cops.cc] program (COPS uses *very* agressive fundraising techniques), non-urgent warnings regardiing West Nile Virus, reminding me to wear sunscreen, and notifications about upcoming meeting for the County Health Department.
Here's the kicker: I'm only signed up for "Critical" alerts. I shouldn't be getting any of these--- but I do.
I would never sign up for SMS alerts from this organization. Way too much Spam.
Re:kind of scary (Score:5, Informative)
Here's a couple articles on the subject in the event you were honestly wondering.
The Emergency Alert System (EAS) page [fcc.gov]
National Alert System In Disarray [cbsnews.com]
The Partnership for Public Warning [ppw.us]
Facts that can be found in the above links:
President Truman established CONELRAD in 1951.
President Kennedy established the EBS in 1963.
President Clinton established the EAS in 1995.
Clinton Administration updated the EAS to all digital in 1996.
President Bush began procedures to amend the EAS rules to include Digital Media Technologies on November 3, 2005.
With all due respect, you're spreading FUD, not FACTS.
That's why you use ham radio! (Score:2, Informative)
Except the Red Cross. But that's another story.
Re:Indeed (Score:3, Informative)
Not trying to be picky or anything, just figured I mention it.
Re:Just in time for the fall election season (Score:2, Informative)
You betcha, the National Weather Service did an excellent job. (For confirmation, see this timeline [wikipedia.org].)
I don't think having another warning from cellphones would have made much difference.