Nextel has built a platform for providing primary distribution of AMBER Alerts in conjunction with the Pennsylvania State Police and Comlabs, a supplier of emergency management communications and warning systems. Currently available to Nextel's public safety customers in Pennsylvania, wireless AMBER Alerts have been designed for distribution in the event of a documented child abduction. These wireless AMBER Alerts will be free to customers and will maintain the integrity of the original alert messages, as created and distributed by a state AMBER Alert coordinator -- a vital requirement for ensuring that information about the child and his or her suspected abductor is as accurate as possible.
Nextel's platform for distribution of wireless AMBER Alerts has been created in partnership with Comlabs, whose EMNet system interfaces with Nextel's technology, making this the first service to allow for simultaneous delivery to wireless users, government agencies, law enforcement and the broadcast community.
Following the initial pilot of the service for public safety customers in Pennsylvania, Nextel hopes to expand the availability of wireless AMBER Alerts to additional customers. Wireless alerts will be distributed to customers in targeted geographic areas, based on area code, and will be sent to Nextel phones via text message.
"NCMEC has spent more than 20 tireless years working to increase awareness and successfully unite law enforcement in the fight against the disappearance and abduction of children," said Ernie Allen, NCMEC president and CEO. "Today, we are so pleased to be associated with a technology that will not only assist law enforcement, but also has the capability to extend the reach of AMBER Alerts to millions of mobile phone users across the country."
"At Nextel, we believe supporting the efforts of the public safety community is not an opportunity, it is an obligation," said Nextel President and CEO Tim Donahue. "Our partnership with the Pennsylvania State Police has resulted in the development of a technology innovation that has the potential to put AMBER Alerts in the hands of wireless users everywhere. We wholeheartedly encourage the rest of the wireless industry to join us in exploring ways to make this service available to all wireless users nationwide."
"Communications Laboratories is very pleased to be partnering with Nextel to provide AMBER Alert notification directly to Nextel public safety subscribers. Nextel's leadership in establishing and providing this service displays a strong commitment on their part to maximizing the use of wireless connectivity to save lives," said Comlabs President and CEO, Roland Lussier.
An AMBER Alert is issued by a state public safety official in the event that a child is abducted and meets specific criteria to warrant an AMBER Alert. The U.S. Department of Justice recommends the criteria listed below for AMBER Alert programs nationwide:
- Law enforcement confirms a child has been abducted.
- The child is believed to be in danger of serious bodily harm or death.
- There is enough descriptive information to believe an immediate broadcast alert will help.
- The child's name and other critical data elements, including the Child Abduction flag, have been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC).
