December 18, 2025
Source: Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
In October 2023, the FCC adopted rules to require wireless providers participating in Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) to support multilingual WEA messages through the use of templates in the thirteen most commonly spoken languages in the United States and in American Sign Language (ASL).
When an alerting authority chooses to send a template-based multilingual alert message, WEA-capable mobile devices must be able to display the relevant template in the subscriber’s selected language if available, including ASL.
On January 8, 2025, the FCC released a Report and Order adopting 18 different WEA template alert messages that represent the most common and time-sensitive alerts, available in the 13 most-common written languages, English, and ASL. The ASL emergency alert templates are available here: fcc.gov/WirelessEmergencyAlert-Templates-ASL.
The ASL video messages are signed by a Certified Deaf Interpreter to provide accurate ASL translations of the messages. When displayed on a user’s mobile device, the ASL videos will be followed by English fillable template describing:
- the sending agency,
- the name(s) of the geographic area(s) pertaining to the alert message,
- the time when the emergency conditions described in the alert are expected to end, and,
- if included by the alert originator, a URL.
On December 18, 2025, the FCC released a Public Notice announcing the compliance date of June 12, 2028, for mobile service providers that participate in WEA to support multilingual templates.
Link to the October 2023 WEA Report and Order: fcc.gov/document/fcc-adopts-rules-improve-accessibility-wireless-emergency-alerts
Link to the January 8, 2025 Report and Order: fcc.gov/document/fcc-paves-way-multilingual-wireless-emergency-alerts
Link to the December 18, 2025, Public Notice Announcing the compliance date: fcc.gov/document/pshsb-announces-compliance-deadline-multilingual-wea-templates
For information regarding WEA accessibility, visit fcc.gov/wea-accessibility. For specific information regarding the multilingual alert Report and Order, contact Joshua Gehret, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau at (202) 418-7816, or Joshua.Gehret@fcc.gov. Individuals who use videophones and are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) may call the FCC’s ASL Consumer Support Line at (844) 432-2275 (videophone).
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