New York Attorney General Letitia James has called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to publish a rule that would expand the language accessibility of emergency alerts sent to cell phones. James led a coalition of 18 other attorneys general and New York City in demanding immediate action from the FCC, citing the need for critical government emergency alerts to be available in more languages. Currently, these alerts are issued only in English and Spanish.
The proposed rule, which was unanimously adopted by the FCC in January 2025, would require wireless carriers to support pre-translated alert templates in 13 additional non-English languages and American Sign Language. However, nearly ten months after its adoption, the FCC has not published it in the Federal Register, delaying its implementation. The delay means that millions of people who do not speak English or Spanish continue to lack access to potentially life-saving information during emergencies.
In a letter to the FCC, Attorney General James and her coalition warned they are prepared to take legal action if the rule is not published within 30 days. “Language should never be a barrier to life-saving information,” said Attorney General James. “Every New Yorker, regardless of language, deserves to know what to do when danger strikes. The FCC’s failure to publish this unanimously adopted rule is unacceptable and puts people at risk. We are demanding immediate action by the FCC to ensure that no community is left in the dark during future hurricanes, wildfires, or floods.”
Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) are short messages sent through cell carriers by government agencies warning of imminent threats such as severe weather or public safety emergencies. While these alerts automatically reach about 75 percent of all active cell-phone users in the United States, their effectiveness among non-English-speaking communities remains limited without expanded language support.
Attorney General James began advocating for multilingual emergency alerts following Hurricane Ida in 2021, which resulted in significant loss of life among communities with low English proficiency rates. In response, she urged the FCC and later led multistate efforts pressing for expanded access.
Other officials and advocates echoed calls for urgent action. Christina Curry, Commissioner of the NYC Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities stated: “All communities, including those who rely on American Sign Language (ASL), will benefit from wireless alerts that reflect our diversity…equal access to critical life-saving information for our immigrant neighbors and those of us who rely on ASL is essential for public safety.”
NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol added: “With almost 1 in 5 individuals in the United States speaking a language other than English at home, multilingual wireless emergency alerts are crucial…Every day of delay is another day that millions of Americans are at risk.”
Congresswoman Grace Meng commented: “Diverse communities like Queens understand firsthand just how important multilingual emergency alerts can be…I have fought to ensure that federal agencies…have the capability to reach people who speak languages other than English.”
Murad Awawdeh from New York Immigration Coalition said: “Extreme weather events are no longer anomalies—they are becoming regular occurrences that New Yorkers wake up to every day…We stand firmly with Attorney General James in demanding the Federal Communications Commission immediately publish its long-delayed rule expanding multilingual emergency alerts.”
Several advocacy organizations stressed that timely information is essential for public safety and highlighted ongoing risks faced by immigrant communities due to language barriers.
James’s demand letter notes that both federal law and agency regulations require prompt publication of adopted rules—even during government shutdowns—and argues that further delays violate these requirements.
The coalition includes attorneys general from Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin alongside New York City.
This matter is being managed by staff within New York’s Environmental Protection Bureau under broader supervision from state officials.
