Lulu's Law: Bill Mandates FCC Add Shark Attacks to Wireless Emergency Alert System Within 180 Days

This bill, titled "Lulu's Law," directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to update the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system. Specifically, Section 2 requires the FCC to issue an order within 180 days that adds shark attacks to the list of events eligible for triggering these public safety alerts sent to mobile phones.

New Bite for Emergency Alerts

So, what does this mean in practice? The WEA system is the same one that pushes out Amber Alerts or severe weather warnings. If this bill passes and the FCC acts as directed, you might eventually receive alerts on your phone if a shark attack is confirmed in your vicinity, similar to how you'd get a flash flood warning. The core idea is to enhance public safety for beachgoers, surfers, and anyone near coastal waters by providing timely warnings.

However, the real-world effectiveness hinges on a few things. First, how quickly can a shark attack be confirmed and an alert be geographically targeted and disseminated? Seconds count in these situations. Second, there's the potential for "alert fatigue" – if alerts aren't handled carefully or seem overly frequent for non-critical situations, people might start ignoring them. The FCC's upcoming order will need to address the practicalities of implementing this specific type of alert effectively.