WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Federal Communications Commission added the "Blue Alert" to the nation's emergency alerting systems last week.
In an order adopted on Dec. 14 the FCC created a dedicated Blue Alert event code in the Emergency Alert System so that state and local agencies have the option to send these warnings to the public through broadcast, cable, satellite, and wireline video providers, according to a news release.
Blue Alerts warn the public when there is actionable information related to a law enforcement officer who is missing, seriously injured or killed in the line of duty, or when there is an imminent credible threat to an officer. A Blue Alert could quickly warn the public of the whereabouts of a violent suspect and provide instructions on what to do if that person is spotted.
Officials may also send Blue Alerts through the Wireless Emergency Alert system to consumers' wireless phones.
The action supports the development of compatible and integrated Blue Alert plans throughout the United States, a goal consistent with the Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National Blue Alert Act of 2015.
The Act -- implemented by the Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) -- directs cooperation with the FCC.
The FCC's order provides a 12-month implementation period for Blue Alerts to be delivered over the Emergency Alert System and 18 months for delivery over the Wireless Emergency Alert system.
