UPDATE: AT&T has blamed a “nationally syndicated radio station” for sending the alert message, despite the fact that only the federal government can send out EAS alerts. The alert system, “can only be activated by the President in times of emergency,” reports Fox 5.
Americans watching television across the country were
puzzled earlier today when an alert from the White House interrupted
their viewing, told them to stand by for an emergency message and warned
them not to use their phones.
TV channels automatically changed to local news stations
but no White House message ever came, prompting confusion and concern,
especially given heightened tensions amidst the Ebola crisis.
The message was seen by viewers in Austin, Atlanta, Detroit and across North Carolina, as well as other areas of the country.
WSOC-TV
out of Charlotte, North Carolina later posted a statement on their
website saying they would investigate why the message went out,
indicating TV and radio stations were given no advance notice of the
test.
An AT&T spokesperson later indicated that that the alert notification was sent out erroneously.
“Earlier today, U-verse TV customers may have
received an Emergency Alert notification. We confirmed that there is no
emergency at this time and we are investigating why this occurred. We
apologize for any inconvenience,” read the statement.
However, the Emergency Alert System is mandatory by
law – stations have no control or power to block the signal once it is
sent out by the federal government. Broadcasters are required to install
and maintain FCC-certified EAS decoders and encoders at their control
points, meaning the signal cannot be switched off or interrupted.
How sensible is it that the feds ‘mistakenly’ sent
out an emergency alert – potentially causing panic – amidst national
concerns about the Ebola outbreak in the United States?
Back in 2011, a similar test of the emergency alert
system, in this case for cellphones, went awry when residents were told
that a “civil emergency” was in progress and that they should “take
shelter,” prompting 911 lines to be flooded by panicked callers. Authorities later apologized, claiming the test was a mistake.
Weird message warns viewers not to use phones amidst Ebola concerns
(Infowars) – AT&T has blamed a “nationally syndicated radio station” for sending the alert message, despite the fact that only the federal government can send out EAS alerts. The alert system, “can only be activated by the President in times of emergency,” reports Fox 5.
(Infowars) – AT&T has blamed a “nationally syndicated radio station” for sending the alert message, despite the fact that only the federal government can send out EAS alerts. The alert system, “can only be activated by the President in times of emergency,” reports Fox 5.
Americans watching television across the country were
puzzled earlier today when an alert from the White House interrupted
their viewing, told them to stand by for an emergency message and warned
them not to use their phones.
- See more at:
http://www.teaparty.org/white-house-emergency-alert-interrupts-tv-viewers-across-america-63723/#sthash.yUQRRcmh.dpuf
Weird message warns viewers not to use phones amidst Ebola concerns
(Infowars) – AT&T has blamed a “nationally syndicated radio station” for sending the alert message, despite the fact that only the federal government can send out EAS alerts. The alert system, “can only be activated by the President in times of emergency,” reports Fox 5.
(Infowars) – AT&T has blamed a “nationally syndicated radio station” for sending the alert message, despite the fact that only the federal government can send out EAS alerts. The alert system, “can only be activated by the President in times of emergency,” reports Fox 5.
Americans watching television across the country were
puzzled earlier today when an alert from the White House interrupted
their viewing, told them to stand by for an emergency message and warned
them not to use their phones.
- See more at:
http://www.teaparty.org/white-house-emergency-alert-interrupts-tv-viewers-across-america-63723/#sthash.yUQRRcmh.dpuf
Weird message warns viewers not to use phones amidst Ebola concerns
(Infowars) – AT&T has blamed a “nationally syndicated radio station” for sending the alert message, despite the fact that only the federal government can send out EAS alerts. The alert system, “can only be activated by the President in times of emergency,” reports Fox 5.
(Infowars) – AT&T has blamed a “nationally syndicated radio station” for sending the alert message, despite the fact that only the federal government can send out EAS alerts. The alert system, “can only be activated by the President in times of emergency,” reports Fox 5.
Americans watching television across the country were
puzzled earlier today when an alert from the White House interrupted
their viewing, told them to stand by for an emergency message and warned
them not to use their phones.
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TV channels automatically changed to local news stations
but no White House message ever came, prompting confusion and concern,
especially given heightened tensions amidst the Ebola crisis.
The message was seen by viewers in Austin, Atlanta, Detroit and across North Carolina, as well as other areas of the country.
WSOC-TV out of Charlotte, North Carolina later posted a
statement on their website saying they would investigate why the message
went out, indicating TV and radio stations were given no advance notice
of the test.
An AT&T spokesperson later indicated that that the alert notification was sent out erroneously.
“Earlier today, U-verse TV customers may have received
an Emergency Alert notification. We confirmed that there is no emergency
at this time and we are investigating why this occurred. We apologize
for any inconvenience,” read the statement.
However, the Emergency Alert System is mandatory by law –
stations have no control or power to block the signal once it is sent
out by the federal government.Broadcasters are required to install and
maintain FCC-certified EAS decoders and encoders at their control
points, meaning the signal cannot be switched off or interrupted.
How sensible is it that the feds ‘mistakenly’ sent out
an emergency alert – potentially causing panic – amidst national
concerns about the Ebola outbreak in the United States?
Back in 2011, a similar test of the emergency alert
system, in this case for cellphones, went awry when residents were told
that a “civil emergency” was in progress and that they should “take
shelter,” prompting 911 lines to be flooded by panicked callers.
Authorities later apologized, claiming the test was a mistake.
Did you see today’s emergency alert message? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
http://www.infowars.com/white-house-emergency-alert-interrupts-tv-viewers-across-america/
- See more at:
http://www.teaparty.org/white-house-emergency-alert-interrupts-tv-viewers-across-america-63723/#sthash.xp1lsmyu.dpuf
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