Two years ago, Federal Communications Commission Voted unanimously This requires Wireless emergency alert Reach people 13 languages ​​and American symbolic languageThose alerts are people who receive climate disasters such as wildfire and storm as well as amber alert. So far, wireless emergency alerts go out only in Spanish and English. Still, almost In addition to English at 68 million American homes speak another languageAccording to the US Census Bureau.

But some Democratic Congress members and non -profit institutions say that since the Trump came to the administration office, the FCC has called the federal register report and order. To update wireless emergency alerts in 13 most common spoken languages ​​in the US, a 30 -month window begins for wireless providers such as AT & T and Verizon,

California Congresswoman Nanet Bargan, a Democrat, says that FCC has already approved this change, which she notes. FCC President Brendon Carr supported in 2023,

“As we move forward with it, I think there is a lot that we can do to improve it, especially around access and to ensure that the system continues to work for all, so my support of this item is my support,” Carr said just before the vote was voted in the April of that year.

Only one step remains: to report and publish the order in the Federal Register. Wireless providers such as AT&T and Verizon will be required to install a template in each language.

“When an emergency alert comes, people should be able to understand what it says and what to do to the instructions,” Bairagan. “It’s about saving life, it’s about safety.”

It is not clear why FCC has delayed updating the wireless emergency alert system.

NPR FCC President Brendon reached the car office of the car and several times to comment on the agency office of media relations, but received no response.

But like Barragán and non -profitable, AAPI equity alliance, pointing to an executive order signed by President Trump on his inauguration day “Regulatory Freeze Pending Review” As due to delay. The order prevents executive departments and agencies from sending the report to the office of the federal register until an official of the Trump administration approved the rule.

“It is an independent agency,” Bairagan says, which represents the South Los Angeles. “There should also be no need that someone in Trump White House will have to review and approve any action by an independent agency like FCC.”

NPR arrived several times to the White House for comment, but did not receive the response.

FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez – Nominated by President Joe Biden for the body – says the Commission has adopted other rules and orders. Published in federal register Ever since Trump took over.

“So it is not clear for me why there is a delay in publishing it,” Gomez is called.

When NPR asked whether Trump’s executive order of January 20 is handling the process, Gomez says this is possible. She says, “This is the time of the past to allow FCC to proceed this process so that more people get the necessary important information in a language and format, which they understand,” she says.

Congress installed Warning and reaction network (warning) act in 2006. This gave FCC the ability to adopt technical standards, protocols and procedures so that mobile provider can send emergency alerts during climate disasters and amber alerts.

Protocols allow federal, state and local governments to use wireless emergency alerts to send warnings to the public through their mobile devices through FEMA-approved software. Once the emergency alert is certified and valid, it goes to wireless providers through a distribution channel.

during Wildfire in Los Angeles earlier this yearWireless providers sent withdrawal messages to customers, until they choose to get emergency alerts.

However, A UCLA study found that more than 12,000 Asian American The withdrawal alert received through its mobile providers in four withdrawals areas did not understand.

Paul Ong is one of the authors of the study and directs the center of the UCLA for the knowledge of the neighborhood. He says

“Among the Asian Americans, we find a large variety in languages,” Ong says. “Even among language groups like Chinese, you have many, many different dialects.”

In a letter sent on 26 May, the Congress’s Hispanic, Asian Pacific American and Black Cocks called FCC President Brendon Car to update the multilingual wireless emergency alert.

“Failing to implement this rule means that millions of Americans are potentially denied access to life-saving emergency alert-wildfires, earthquakes, storms, active shooters, or other disasters-in a language that they understand. It is unacceptable,” Tri-Cockcare has written in the letter.

The warm temperature is already drying the vegetation in the west – there is more likely to have wildfire. Hurricane season The Atlantic coast is already running. This is why Manjusha Kulkarni, Executive Director of AAPI’s equity coalition, hopes that FCC will proceed to implement its updated emergency alert system.

Kulkarni says, “The language in which any person speaks should not actually stop them from getting the necessary information to keep their families safe.”