FCC Slow-Walks Lifesaving Alerts, AG James Threatens Lawsuit

NEW YORK – The Federal Communications Commission is playing a dangerous game with public safety, deliberately stalling the release of a rule that would expand life-saving emergency alerts to 13 additional languages, according to New York Attorney General Letitia James. The delay, now stretching nearly ten months after unanimous FCC approval in January 2025, is drawing the ire of James, who today led a coalition of 18 other attorneys general and New York City in threatening legal action if the rule isn’t published within 30 days.

The stakes are brutally clear. Last week’s floods in New York City, which claimed two lives, underscored the deadly consequences of limited emergency communication. Currently, alerts are only delivered in English and Spanish. The new rule, years in the making and spearheaded by James’s office, aims to rectify that, extending crucial warnings to communities with limited English proficiency. An estimated 1.3 million New Yorkers alone don’t speak English or Spanish, leaving them vulnerable during disasters.

“Language should never be a barrier to life-saving information,” James stated bluntly. “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.” The Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) system, short text-like messages broadcast through cell carriers, are a vital tool, but their limited language options have long been a known deficiency. The problem came to the forefront after Hurricane Ida in 2021, which claimed 13 lives in New York City, disproportionately impacting neighborhoods with low English proficiency.

The Multilingual Alerts Order, formally adopted by the FCC in January, mandates pre-translated alert templates in the 13 most commonly spoken non-English languages, as well as American Sign Language. Once published in the Federal Register, carriers would have 30 months to upgrade their systems. But the FCC’s inaction has effectively frozen the process. The agency’s silence is particularly galling, given the unanimous vote in favor of the rule – a rare display of bipartisan agreement now rendered meaningless by bureaucratic inertia.

Attorney General James and her coalition are invoking the Administrative Procedure Act and the FCC’s own regulations, arguing the agency is legally obligated to publish the rule. The letter sent to the FCC is a clear warning: comply, or face a lawsuit. The coalition isn’t merely requesting action; they’re preparing to force it, highlighting the severity of the situation and the potential for further loss of life due to preventable communication failures.

This isn’t just about bureaucratic red tape; it’s about lives. The FCC’s delay isn’t a minor oversight—it’s a calculated risk with real-world consequences. James’s office is making it clear: they won’t stand by while the agency prioritizes procedure over the safety of its citizens. The next 30 days will determine whether the FCC responds to the pressure or forces a legal battle over access to critical, potentially life-saving information.