FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is WEA?

Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA), is a public safety system that allows customers to receive geographically-targeted, text-like messages alerting them of imminent threats to safety in their area. 

What alerts does WEA deliver?

Alerts from WEA cover only critical emergency situations. Customers may receive only four types of alerts:

• Alerts issued by the President
• Alerts involving imminent threats to safety or life
• Amber Alerts
• BLU Alerts
• State and Local Test Messages
• Public Safety Messages

How does WEA work?

Authorized national, state or local government authorities may send alerts regarding public safety emergencies – such as evacuation orders or shelter-in-place orders due to severe weather, a terrorist threat or chemical spill – using WEA.

 

The alerts from authenticated public safety officials are sent through FEMA's Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) to participating wireless carriers, which broadcasts the alert in the affected area.

 

Who receives the alerts? 

Geo-targeted alerts are sent over networks and received by devices that are technically capable of transmitting and receiving the enhanced alerts. If some or all of a network is technically incapable of providing geo-targeted alerts, or a device cannot be upgraded to support this functionality, then alert messages are delivered to an area that best approximates the specified target area (i.e., the zone of an emergency) on those technically incapable aspects of the network infrastructure. In both instances, customers with mobile devices in the alert zone specified by the alert message will receive the alert. Wireless emergency alerts, including enhanced geo-targeting, may not be available on all devices or in the entire service area, or if a subscriber is outside of GCI’s service area.

What if I’m not in Alaska?

GCI subscribers will receive alerts when roaming on other carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile as long as the carriers have deployed WEA-enabled networks in the local geographic area.

How much do customers pay to receive WEA?

Alerts are free. Alerts do not impact voice, text, or data usage for customers.

Do I have to sign up to receive alerts?

Customers do not need to sign up for this service. GCI customers with alert-capable devices will automatically receive WEA alerts.  For Apple devices, GCI customers must agree to the new carrier settings update when asked. 

What do customers experience when they receive a WEA?

A WEA appears on the screen of the recipient's handset as a text-like message. The alert is accompanied by a unique attention signal and vibration, which is particularly helpful to people with hearing or vision-related disabilities. 

Are customers able to receive WEAs on a prepaid phone?

Yes. Customers with prepaid phones can receive WEAs as long as their provider participates in WEA and the customer has a WEA-enabled device. These customers receive the alerts just as customers with postpaid, monthly services do.

Does WEA track my location?

No. WEA is not designed to – and does not – track the location of anyone receiving a WEA alert.

Do I need a new phone or a smart phone to receive alerts?

Some phones may require only software upgrades to receive alerts, while in other cases a subscriber may need to purchase a new WEA-capable device. For a list of confirmed WEA-capable GCI handsets please view 'Which GCI devices receive WEA notifications?' below.

How can I view the WEA settings on my mobile device?

View the Support Article for both iPhone and Android.

Can I block WEAs?

Partially. Participating wireless carriers may offer subscribers with WEA-capable handsets the ability to opt out of receiving alerts involving imminent threats to safety of life and/or AMBER Alerts; however, customers cannot opt-out of receiving emergency alerts issued by the President.

Do I need GPS in order for alerts to work? 

No. Neither customer information nor GPS is needed to broadcast WEAs. Alerts will go to all alert-capable devices in the specified affected area of the wireless network. 

What if my phone is turned off when a WEA is issued? 

You will not receive the alert unless you turn your phone on during the alert broadcasting session. 

If my account with GCI is suspended or cancelled, will I still receive alerts? 

Yes. WEAs are a public safety service and do not cost the subscriber/customer any money. Because of this, and regardless of your account status, you will still receive alerts.

Is WEA available everywhere?

WEAs are enabled throughout the majority of the GCI coverage area.  A list of communities that are not yet served by WEA is available.

Because participation in WEA by wireless carriers is widespread but voluntary, some carriers may offer WEA over all or parts of their service areas, or over all or only some of their wireless devices. Other carriers may not offer WEA at all. Even if you have a WEA-enabled device, you would not receive WEAs in a service area where the provider is not offering WEA or if your device is roaming on a provider network that does not support the WEA service. 

Adak	Grayling	Nulato
Akutan	Holy Cross	Ouzinkie
Aleknagik	Huslia	Pedro Bay
Anaktuvuk Pass	Igiugig	Perryville
Anvik	Iliamna	Pilot Point
Arctic Village	Kaktovik	Platinum
Atka	Kalskag	Point Hope
Atqasuk	Kaltag	Point Lay
Beaver	King Cove	Port Alsworth
Birch Creek	Klukwan	Port Graham
Cantwell	Kobuk	Port Heiden
Chalkyitsik	Kokhanok	Port Lions
Chenega	Koliganek	Ruby
Chignik	Koyukuk	Saint Mary's
Chignik Lagoon	Larsen Bay	Saint Paul
Chignik Lake	Levelock	Sand Point
Chitina	Lower Kalskag	Shageluk
Chuathbaluk	Manokotak	Sleetmute
Circle	McCarthy	Stevens Village
Clark's Point	McGrath	Sutton
Cold Bay	McKinley Village	Tanana
Cordova	Mentasta Lake	Tatitlek
Crooked Creek	Minto	Teller
Deering	Muklung Hills	Tenakee Springs
Delta Junction	Nanwalek	Tetlin
Diomede	Nelson Lagoon	Tok
Dot Lake Village	Nenana	Upper Kalskag
Eagle	New Stuyahok	Venetie
Egegik	Newhalen	Wainwright
False Pass	Nikolai	Wales
Fort Greely	Nikolski	Yakutat
Fort Yukon	Nondalton
Glenallen	Nuiqsut

Which GCI devices receive WEA notifications?

The following is a list of confirmed devices that will receive WEA notifications. If your device is not on this list, or you are unsure if your device is listed below as a WEA-capable, please contact 1 (800) 800-4800.

DEVICE MAKE	DEVICE MODEL
Apple	iPhone 11 Pro
Samsung	S10+

Please Note: Legacy Alaska Communications devices will not receive WEAs. Please call GCI Customer Service with any questions at 1 (800) 800-4800.

For more information about WEA visit the FCC website: https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/wireless-emergency-alerts-wea

What is Geo-targeting?

Geo-targeting is a technology aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of WEA alert messages. A geo-targeted message is an alert message that is specified by a circle or polygon that is delivered to an area that matches the specified circle or polygon. “Matching” a target area means delivering an Alert Message to 100 percent of the target area with no more than 0.1 of a mile overshoot. Matching a target area may only work on technically capable networks, and with new mobile devices offered for sale after November 30, 2019 or existing devices that are technically capable of being upgraded to support this standard.