AMBER Alerts Distribution Expands Across Wireless Telephone Networks

Today, several wireless telecommunications companies announced that they are adding capabilities to their networks to support the distribution of AMBER Alerts to cell phones.

The move by Alltel, Cingular Wireless, Dobson Communications, Nextel Communications, RCC/Unicel, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon Wireless to connect their networks to the AMBER Alert system and give subscribers the option to receive AMBER Alerts as text messages on their phones will enable local law enforcement to reach millions with AMBER Alerts.

"Statistics tell us that the first three hours after abduction are most critical to recovering a child alive," Scott Ford, president and chief executive officer of Alltel, said.

In addition, tips from the public regarding missing children cases are have proven to be very helpful. "Firsthand experience has shown us that tips from the public play a vital role in helping law enforcement locate and ultimately arrest child abductors," John Walsh, host of 'America's Most Wanted' and co-founder of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children said. "I applaud the wireless industry for creating an initiative that will involve millions of Americans helping law enforcement reunite abducted children with their families and potentially leading to the arrest of abductors."

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) will transmit AMBER Alerts to wireless carriers after law enforcement issues the Alert. Alerts will appear on customers' wireless phones in the same manner as any other text message. There's no charge for the service. Wireless subscribers whose phone is capable of recieving text messages and whose wireless carrier participates in the Wireless AMBER Alerts Initiative, may opt in to receive alerts by registering at the wireless AMBER Alert Web site or through their wireless carrier's Web site. Subscribers may designate up to five geographic areas for which they would like to receive Wireless AMBER Alerts simply by entering a zip code.

"Working hand-in-hand with state governments, local law enforcement and the public, the Consortium has rolled out the most advanced AMBER Alert system in the nation," said Todd Sander of the AMBER Alert Web Portal Consortium. "Citizens have not only embraced the opportunity to receive alerts any time and, anywhere, but endorsed the public/private partnership model which brings the best technology to bear without asking for tax dollars in return."

The AMBER Alert Web Portal enables local law enforcement to immediately activate, directly transmit, update, and cancel AMBER Alerts. To date, most AMBER Alerts systems have been limited in their distribution capabilities, sending only text-based information to primarily radio and TV broadcasters as well as to the Department of Transportation's electronic highway signs and EAS. The AMBER Alert Web Portal expands the types of information that can be distributed as well as the devices that can receive them. The data, including pictures, text and biographical information, is encoded in XML, which enables it to be received by a multitude of electronic devices including cell phones, email, PDAs, pagers, fax, lottery machines, and other standard communication devices in as quickly as ten minutes after an AMBER Alert has been declared. The system uses sophisticated geo-specific targeting enabling the Alerts to automatically grow in scope over time ensuring that AMBER Alerts are sent only to people within the specific geographic region surrounding the kidnapping and relieving the law enforcement of the need to keep manually expanding size of alert area.

"Currently AMBER Alerts are broadcast by television and radio outlets and on some electronic highway signs," said Steve Largent, CTIA president and CEO and president of The Wireless Foundation. "With more than 60 percent of Americans owning wireless phones, and seldom going anywhere without them, this initiative will significantly increase the reach of the AMBER Alert program by notifying people wherever they are of the emergency