1. User Needs Group (UNG)
Status Report to the Commercial Mobile Service Alert Advisory Committee
September 19, 2007
Gary K Jones, UNG Deputy Chair

2. User Needs Group Successes
Addressed the needs of the user
General as well as needs for disabled and elderly users
Opt-out process
Customer notification language
Message generation and presentation parameters
Audio Attention Signal and Vibration Signal parameters
Considerations for future message profiles

3. UNG Issues Addressed
UNG has developed requirements and recommendations for Individuals with Special Needs
Found that most of the requirements benefit all subscribers in an emergency
A common audio attention signal and a common vibrating cadence to be used solely for CMAMs
Do not require multiple key strokes to dismiss/save message; use A familiar command, consistent with the other commands used for call or message handling on the mobile device
Present most important information first
Keep language simple and avoid abbreviations
Provide a speech version; providers encouraged to provide text to speech in some handsets
Investigate how the CMSAAC can help facilitate alternate delivery mechanisms for small populations to sign up with third parties for alternate format message delivery
Detailed requirements are for the text profile, however some general requirements were developed for advanced/future profiles for messages delivered in formats other than text

4. UNG Issues Addressed
The UNG has developed recommendations under which electing CMS providers may offer subscribers the capability of preventing the subscribers device from receiving emergency alerts, or classes of alerts.
The UNG recommends a capability of opting-out of:
all but the Presidential level messages
all but the most extreme event warnings
AMBER Alerts
Actual implementation of these choices on a mobile device should be left up to individual CMSP and their vendors.

5. Notice required by FCC Rule XXXX (Commercial Mobile Alert Service).
UNG Issues Addressed
UNG has developed recommendations on the Consumer Notification that will be issued by non-electing service providers.
NOTICE BY CARRIER WHO, “IN WHOLE,” DOES NOT INTEND TO TRANSMIT EMERGENCY ALERTS
NOTICE TO NEW AND EXISTING SUBSCRIBERS REGARDING TRANSMISSION OF WIRELESS EMERGENCY ALERTS (Commercial Mobile Alert Service)
[[WIRELESS PROVIDER]] presently does not transmit wireless emergency alerts.
Notice required by FCC Rule XXXX (Commercial Mobile Alert Service).

6. UNG Issues Addressed
UNG has developed recommendations on the Consumer Notification that will be issued by non-electing service providers, electing service providers and partially electing service providers.
NOTICE BY CARRIER WHO INTENDS TO TRANSMIT EMERGENCY ALERTS “IN PART.”
NOTICE REGARDING TRANSMISSION OF
WIRELESS EMERGENCY ALERTS (Commercial Mobile Alert Service)
[[WIRELESS PROVIDER]] has chosen to offer wireless emergency alerts within portions of its service area, as defined by the terms and conditions of its service agreement, on wireless emergency alert capable devices. There is no additional charge for these wireless emergency alerts.
Wireless emergency alerts may not be available in the entire service area or on all devices. For details on the availability of this service and wireless emergency alert capable devices, please ask a sales representative, or go to [[INSERT WEBSITE URL]].
Notice required by FCC Rule XXXX (Commercial Mobile Alert Service).

7. UNG Issues Addressed
The UNG in conjunction with the other working groups have developed recommendations on CMA message elements.
What’s Happening
Recommended Action (action to be taken)
Area Affected (In This Area)
Expiration time with Time Zone (Represented as a distinct time – e.g., until 09:30 AM)
Sender Agency (agency type, i.e. police, fire, national weather service, etc.)
Specific fields in the CAP message will be used by the Alert Gateway to develop the CMA message and send it to the carriers.
Example - Tornado Warning Take Cover Immed in this area until 3 PM EDT NWS" (64 Characters)
Alternate “free text” mechanism proposed

8. UNG Issues Addressed
UNG Consulted with other working groups in developing their recommendations
Audio Attention Signal and Vibration Signal characteristics
Acoustic parameters
Duration and frequency
Developed text strings associated with the values in the CAP field
Retransmission times
Rebroadcast responsibilities

9. UNG Issues Addressed Future Message Profiles Video Alert Message
Audio Alert Messages
insure that speech is enunciated and presented at a slow pace
provide a text version along with the audio version
Video Alert Message
provide an audio description of the video content as a separate multimedia audio component
Multimedia Alert Message
provide all information in text and graphical form as part of the multimedia components and an audio description of the important information supplied in the graphic