FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is WEA?

Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA), is a public safety alert 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:

• National alerts issued by the president of the United States or the administrator of FEMA
• Alerts involving imminent threats to safety or life (including Blue Alerts)
• AMBER Alerts about missing children
• Public Safety Messages conveying recommendations for saving lives and property

WEA test messages — which clearly state that they are sent as part of a test — may also be sent by state and local emergency agencies.

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 authorized 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 wireless 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 aspects of the network infrastructure. In both instances, the alert message is sent to customers in WEA-covered service areas with mobile devices within 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 throughout GCI's 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 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 WEA-covered service area of the wireless network. 

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

You will not receive the alert unless your phone is turned 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 alert 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?

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. GCI does not support WEA on its network in the following areas:

Adak	Holy Cross	Ouzinkie
Akutan	Huslia	Pedro Bay
Aleknagik	Igiugig	Perryville
Ambler	Iliamna	Pilot Point
Anaktuvuk Pass	Kaktovik	Platinum
Anvik	Kalskag	Point Hope
Arctic Village	Kaltag	Point Lay
Atka	King Cove	Port Alsworth
Atqasuk	Kivalina	Port Graham
Beaver	Klukwan	Port Heiden
Birch Creek	Kobuk	Port Lions
Brevig Mission	Kokhanok	Ruby
Chalkyitsik	Kotlik	Saint Paul
Chenega Bay	Koyukuk	Sand Point
Chignik Bay	Larsen Bay	Savoonga
Chignik Lagoon	Levelock	Seldovia
Chignik Lake	Little Diomede	Shageluk
Chuathbaluk	Lower Kalskag	Shishmaref
Circle	McCarthy	Shungnak
Clark's Point	McGrath	Sleetmute
Cold Bay	McKinley Village	Stevens Village
Cordova	Mentasta Lake	Stuyahok
Crooked Creek	Minto	Sutton
Deering	Muklung Hills	Tanana
Dot Lake Village	Napaimute	Tatitlek
Dutch Harbor	Nelson Lagoon	Teller
Eagle	Nanwalek	Tenakee Springs
Egegik	Nelson Lagoon	Tetlin
Ester	New Stuyahok	Thorne Bay
False Pass	Newhalen	Unalaska
Fort Yukon	Nikolai	Upper Kalskag
Gambell	Nikolski	Utqiagvik
Grayling	Nondalton	Venetie
Gulkana	Nuiqsut	Wainwright
Gustavus	Nulato	Wales
		Yakutat

Which GCI devices receive WEA notifications?

Find which devices are WEA-capable online or in a store.

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.

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.