The Federal Communications Commission announced requirements for wireless carriers that choose to participate in an alert system designed to send emergency messages to subscribers.

Adopted April 9, the First Report and Order (.pdf file) lays out technical requirements for the transmission of emergency messages to the public in compliance with the Warning, Alert and Response Act.

The Commercial Mobile Alert System will send text messages regarding presidential alerts, imminent threat alerts, and child abduction emergency or Amber Alerts to subscribers who register for the service.

In related news, a coalition of counties in southeast Pennsylvania and Philadelphia launched an emergency text alert system for the region. ReadyNotifyPA will allow local officials to send e-mail or text messages to cell phones and other wireless devices during emergencies.