Cell Phone Alerts Coming Soon

[April 10, 2008]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal regulators have approved a plan to create a nationwide emergency alert system using text messages delivered to cell phones.

Text messages have exploded in popularity in recent years, particularly among young people. The wireless industry's trade association, CTIA, estimates more than 48 billion text messages are sent each month.

The plan stems from the Warning Alert and Response Network Act, a 2006 federal law that requires upgrades to the nation's emergency alert system.

[Associated Press]

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