Capitol News

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined 18 other state attorneys general and New York City in urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to publish a rule that would expand emergency alerts to more languages. The rule, which was finalized and adopted by the FCC in January 2025, would add 13 additional languages and American Sign Language (ASL) to government emergency alerts sent to mobile devices. Despite being approved nearly ten months ago, the FCC has not yet published the rule, delaying its implementation.

In a letter addressed to the FCC, Nessel and her colleagues warned that if the rule is not submitted for publication within 30 days, they are prepared to pursue legal action. "Emergency alerts are designed to reach and protect all members of our communities, and they are only truly effective when they reach people in the languages they understand," Nessel said. "The FCC has delayed the implementation of this much-needed rule for far too long, and I stand with my colleagues in calling for the FCC to do their job and make sure this life-saving rule is finally put into action."

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) are messages sent by government agencies through cell carriers to inform the public about imminent threats such as severe weather or public safety emergencies. These alerts have typically been issued only in English, with Spanish included more recently. In 2023, the FCC voted to extend these alerts to additional languages. The Multilingual Alerts Order adopted in January 2025 requires pre-translated alert templates in the most commonly spoken non-English languages and ASL. Wireless carriers will have 30 months from publication of the rule in the Federal Register to update their systems.

The delay in publishing means that efforts to modernize emergency alert systems remain stalled. Non-English-speaking communities continue to lack timely access to important information during emergencies because expanded language accessibility for WEAs has not yet been implemented.

Nessel and her counterparts argue that federal law obligates the FCC to publish adopted rules in the Federal Register under both the Administrative Procedure Act and its own regulations. They also point out that this duty remains during a federal government shutdown.

Other attorneys general signing onto this demand include those from Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai'i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin as well as New York City.