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FEMA, FCC to probe radio show after U-verse emergency alert glitch [Austin American-Statesman](Austin American-Statesman (TX) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Oct. 24--2:10 p.m. update: The Federal Emergency Management Agency issued a statement Friday afternoon confirming that a radio station program set off a false emergency alert that froze stations earlier today for AT&T U-verse customers and impacted others in several states including Texas, Georgia, Tennessee and Detroit. "This morning, there was an inappropriate playing of the national emergency alert notification tones on a syndicated radio broadcast," FEMA spokesperson Rafael Lemaitre said in a statement. "There is not a national emergency. Today's broadcast triggered alert notification in states where the alert has been played." The statement went on to stay that such alerts are designed automatically set off more emergency alerts by other television stations and radio networks. The incident is now being investigated by FEMA and the Federal Communications Commission. "Certain alerts, like the one broadcast today, are designed to be automatically picked up and rebroadcasted by other radio and TV stations," the FEMA official said. "FEMA and the FCC are currently working with broadcasters to determine the full scope of the situation." 1:15 p.m. update: AT&T officials said this morning's glitch with their services was triggered by a false message sent out by a nationally syndicated radio show, which is not affiliated with the Dallas-based telecom giant. The incident was investigated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which discovered the incident, AT&T said. FEMA is slated to address the incident as well. "The Federal Emergency Management Agency's investigation indicates that a nationally syndicated radio show not affiliated with AT&T accidentally sent a message over the National Emergency Alert System," said spokeswoman Briana Gowing. "This false message was carried across our network, as well as some others, as part of the emergency alert system. We apologize to our customers." No immediate word on the name of the radio program that triggered the incident. 11 a.m. update: AT&T officials say they are looking into what caused their service to lock onto an emergency alert for customers in Texas and across the country. Officials issued an apology, and confirmed there is no emergency at this time. "Earlier today U-verse TV customers may have received an Emergency Alert notification," said spokeswoman Briana Gowing. "We confirmed that there is no emergency at this time and we are investigating why this occurred. We apologize for any inconvenience." Earlier: AT&T U-verse customers across the country, including those in Austin and Texas, are seeing a glitch this morning that is freezing television channels on NBC for a nonexistent emergency alert. AT&T officials were scrambling to make a fix, but no immediate word when that might happen. "We're trying to get this problem fixed as quickly as possible," said Austin-based AT&T spokeswoman Briana Gowing. Dozens of frustrated and angry customers from Austin to Georgia to Tennessee were writing on a forum on the AT&T website Friday morning complaining they could not change the channel. Customers were also getting an alert that the White House needed to deliver an emergency message. However, there is no national emergency. "I'm getting a message that says the President has requested that we watch our local station," one customer wrote. "It's force tuned to NBC and we can't change it. I don't see any emergencies, just the Today show. How do I shut this off?" ___ (c)2014 Austin American-Statesman, Texas Visit Austin American-Statesman, Texas at www.statesman.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |