Well that's not true because I have a communication device sitting right next to me that has never broken off normal activities to broadcast emergency information.

Don't tell that to DirecTV.

I got 2 of them, roughly an hour apart in the evening last night - 7:10ish and 8:15ish. They didn't bother me at all. I can understand somebody opting out after 5 or 6 though. Especially all night long and especially since that alarm sounds even if you have your phone muted.

You're not just stating facts. You started off by stating your opinion, which was "I dont think the carriers should be allowed to have a setting to completely disable amber alerts." Since then, you've been spouting a bunch of statist bullshit in an attempt to justify your first position.


And that's a fact.

Actually, that's just a can of beer.

Same here. The first one startled me because it was loud and it was an alert sound I don't normally use, but it was really no big deal.

I stand corrected as reading the FCC reports cellular wireless providers have the option to opt in the emergency alerts, and at what level is entirely up to them.

As for OTA TV, Digital cable TV, Digital satellite TV and wireless 2 way communication its mandatory by the FCC.

Sorry for the confusion I may have caused. As for the fellow who got bombarded with alerts maybe look for a carrier that doesn't opt in as aggressively.

Yeah, the only time I've ever received an amber alert to my phone a child was abducted in Miami. I'm in Orlando, which is about 4 hours away, but if I were driving on I-95 or the turnpike I would have been on the lookout for the vehicle.

I think generally speaking the people who disable these things aren't going to really be concerned or on the lookout anyway, so the situation kind of sorts itself out.

I don't mind the alerts, but it doesn't make much sense to be getting them 300 miles from the event.

I am curious as to why it took 2 hours to get the Amber Alert issued, seems like it would be pretty ineffective at that point. I've always heard that first hour or two after an abduction are the most critical.

It could make sense in some cases if the authorities have reason to think the suspect might head toward your area and if he's had time to get there. But in general, I agree that it wouldn't make sense to shotgun these alerts out over such a wide area without a reason like that if Amber Alert overload is a concern.

That was being discussed on the radio during the drive home

And???

sorry for your loss mtg.