WEA (Wireless Emergency Alert)

Update

April 5, 2018 THU 1:25 PM EDT

Based on an actual WEA (issued by DCEMA in Washington, DC) sent to my iPhone 7 (ios 11.3), no sound (audio) was played when the ringer switch was in the OFF position but the iPhone did vibrate. During the playing of the WEA (first few seconds) when the ringer switch was switched to the ON position, the iPhone 7 sounded the WEA alert tone. The broadcasted WEA was a test alert (see attached)

Thank you.

Just to understand your source of information: Is your answer (yes an iPhone 7 w/11.03 will still produce a sound even with the ringer switch set to off) based on the IOS operating manual, technical manual, other document or on actual experience. I ask this question because there have been discrepancies between what a document may state and how the device actually functions under real world conditions. Thank you for your expertise in this area.

Additional Information (iPhone 7 with IOS 11.3 on Verizon):

The WEA remained in the notifications screen even after the test was concluded. I viewed the WEA several times but did not X it out. The WEA remained in the notifications screen through the next day. This was also true for an iPhone 7 with IOs 11.3 on T-Mobile and it received the test WEA from a separate local jurisdiction. The phone carrier could be a factor because it is the carrier that transmits (and sometimes retransmits) the WEA. It is unknown if the carrier has the ability to ‘recall’ or ‘expire’ a WEA and if yes, whether this would cause the WEA to disappear from the notifications screen.

April 12, 2018 THU 2:30 PM EDT

Mr. Michael Black,

Allow me to provide feedback to your answer. Despite your answer, the test WEA from the DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (DC HSEMA) was silenced by the ringer switch on an iPhone 7 (IOS 11.3 on Verizon wireless) under real world conditions while the visual alert was displayed on the screen and the device did vibrate. This contradicts your statement above indicated that it can not be silenced.

BACKGROUND

The following explanation may provide greater clarity on your more general use of the term 'federal government'. There are 3 general types of WEAs. Most WEAs are issued by a State or local government (who must be pre-approved to be an 'alerting authority' under IPAWS (Integrated Public Alert and Warning System). WEAs are one pathway utilized in an IPAWS message. The Emergency Alert System (EAS), Public highway signs, weather radio channel are examples of other pathways for IPAWS messages. Public URL = Integrated Public Alert & Warning System andIS-247.a: Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS)https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/77356

Three basic types of WEAs -

1) Alerts issued by the President (These WEAs can not be disabled under federal statute - WARN Act)

2) Alerts involving imminent threats to safety or life (Natl Weather Service (a federal agency), state/local governments, etc.)

3) AMBER alerts

CONCLUSION

It would seem to me your reference to a 'federal government' WEAs was most likely a reference to Alerts issued by the President and you are correct these WEAs can not be silenced or disabled. However, all of the WEAs issued due to imminent threats to safety or life can be silenced and can be disabled based on limited real world testing and available government information. For this latter type of WEA, it does not matter whether it was issued by a federal government entity (National Weather Service) or a state/local agency (DC government Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency). Your comments are welcome.

Source: https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/wireless-emergency-alerts-wea