The federal government is devising a nationwide alert system that will involve text messaging wireless carriers during a crisis situation.

The program – expected to begin in two years – will also include an Amber Alert, the urgent bulletin about missing children.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC (News - Alert)) adopted an order this week that will support the ability of the nation’s wireless carriers to transmit timely and accurate alerts, warnings and critical information to cell phones and other mobile devices during a disaster or other emergency.

The order adopts relevant technical requirements based on the recommendations of the Commercial Mobile Service Alert Advisory Committee for the transmission of such emergency messages to the public. The rules are an "important next step" in the FCC's efforts to improve communications during disasters, Chairman Kevin J. Martin says.

While wireless carriers would not be required to upgrade their networks to accommodate the alerts, those agreeing to participate in the program would have to implement FCC standards, sources familiar with the proposal told USA today. The network is expected to be operational by 2010.

The four major cell phone providers – AT&T, Sprint Nextel (News - Alert), T-Mobile and Verizon – said they would participate if the FCC adopts an advisory committee’s recommendations on how the system works. The FCC is expected to approve recommendations, which include, initially, limiting warnings to English and 90 characters in length, officials said.

AT&T (News - Alert) looks forward to offering mobile alerts to their customers, according to Jim Bugel, assistant vice president of federal affairs for the carrier.

During emergencies, Americans increasing rely on wireless telecommunications services and devices to receive critical, time-sensitive information anywhere, anytime, according to the FCC. Once fully implemented, the Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) will help ensure that Americans who subscribe to participating wireless services receive emergency alerts when there is a disaster or emergency that may impact their lives or well-being.

Wireless carriers that chose to participate in the CMAS will transmit text-based alerts to their subscribers. As technology evolves, the CMAS may eventually include audio and video services to transmit emergency alerts to the public.

Consumers can expect to receive three types of messages to their mobile devices: Presidential Alerts on national emergencies that would preempt any other pending alert, Imminent Threat Alerts on emergencies that may pose an imminent risk, and Child Abduction Emergency or “Amber Alerts” on a missing or endangered child.

Participating wireless carriers will be required to comply with the rules adopted in the order within 10 months from the date of the announcement that a Federal agency has been designated to collect and transmit the alerts to the wireless carriers.

The rules are based on recommendations from an advisory committee that includes public-safety officials and industry representatives. Wireless providers sending alerts will have to target subscribers at a county level. The rules bar the carriers from charging customers for the text alerts.

Text messages have exploded in popularity in recent years, particularly among young people. The wireless industry’s trade group, CTIA (News - Alert), estimates that more than 48 billion texts are sent each month.

Eve Sullivan is a TMCnet contributing editor.