[119th Congress Public Law 136]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 1100]]
MYSTIC ALERTS ACT
[[Page 140 STAT. 1101]]
Public Law 119-136
119th Congress
An Act
To provide for the transmission of emergency alerts by satellite, and
for other purposes. <<NOTE: Oct. 22, 2026 - [H.R. 7022]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Mystic Alerts
Act. 47 USC 1201 note.>>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Mystic Alerts Act''.
SEC. 2. <<NOTE: Deadlines.>> TRANSMISSION OF EMERGENCY ALERTS BY
SATELLITE.
(a) Service Provider Election.--
(1) Required filing.--Not later than 60 days after the
effective date of the final rule required to be issued under
subsection (b), each covered service provider shall file an
election with the Federal Communications Commission with respect
to whether the provider intends to transmit emergency alerts by
satellite to the subscribers of the commercial mobile service of
the provider who receive such service on devices capable of
receiving such alerts, in addition to the transmission of
emergency alerts under the Warning Alert, and Response Network
Act.
(2) Notification; agreement.--If a provider elects to
transmit emergency alerts to subscribers by satellite under
paragraph (1), the provider shall--
(A) notify the Commission of that election; and
(B) agree to transmit such alerts in a manner
consistent with the technical standards, protocols,
procedures, and other technical requirements implemented
by the Commission.
(3) <<NOTE: Notice.>> Election not to transmit.--If a
provider elects not to transmit emergency alerts by satellite
under paragraph (1), the provider shall provide notice to new
and existing subscribers described in such paragraph of that
election in the same manner that is required under subparagraphs
(B) and (C) of section 602(b)(1) of the Warning, Alert, and
Response Network Act.
(4) Consumer choice to opt out.--If a provider elects to
transmit emergency alerts to subscribers of such service by
satellite under paragraph (1), the provider shall prevent the
device of any such subscriber that opts out of receiving
emergency alerts pursuant to section 602(b)(2)(E) of the
Warning, Alert, and Response Network Act, or classes of such
alerts, from receiving such alerts by satellite.
(5) No fee for service.--If a provider elects to transmit
emergency alerts to subscribers by satellite under paragraph
[[Page 140 STAT. 1102]]
(1), the provider may not impose a separate or additional charge
for such transmission or capability.
(b) Satellite Alert Regulations.--
(1) <<NOTE: Publication.>> Notice of proposed rulemaking.--
Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Commission shall publish a Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking to establish any requirements necessary to facilitate
the satellite alerting capability of covered service providers.
(2) Requirements.--The requirements required by paragraph
(1) shall--
(A) take into account the capability of--
(i) satellites to transmit emergency alerts;
and
(ii) mobile devices to receive and display
such alerts; and
(B) minimize the impact of emergency alerting on
other voice and data communications, including 9-1-1
communications.
(3) Final rule.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall, in consultation
with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Administrator of
the Federal Emergency Management Agency, issue a final rule
establishing the requirements described under paragraph (1).
(4) Effective date of rule.--
(A) Date.--The effective date of the final rule
described under paragraph (3) shall be the later of--
(i) <<NOTE: Federal Register, publication.>>
36 months after publication of the final rule in
the Federal Register; or
(ii) <<NOTE: Standards. Procedures. Notification.>>
12 months after the Secretary of Homeland
Security and the Administrator of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency implement any
standards, protocols, or procedures necessary to
support the transmission of emergency alerts from
alert originators to covered service providers,
the Secretary and the Administrator shall notify
the Commission of such implementation.
(B) <<NOTE: Determination.>> Notification.--The
Secretary of Homeland Security and the Administrator of
the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall notify the
Commission of the implementation of any standards,
protocols, or procedures described under subparagraph
(A)(ii) for the purpose of determining the effective
date of the final rule described under paragraph (3).
(c) Limitation of Liability.--
(1) In general.--Any covered service provider (including its
officers, directors, employees, vendors, and agents) that
transmits emergency alerts by satellite and meets its
obligations under this Act shall not be liable to any subscriber
to, or user of, such person's service or equipment for--
(A) any act or omission related to or any harm
resulting from the transmission of, or failure to
transmit, an emergency alert by satellite; or
(B) the release to a government agency or entity,
public safety, fire service, law enforcement official,
emergency medical service, or emergency facility of
subscriber information used in connection with
delivering such an alert.
[[Page 140 STAT. 1103]]
(2) Election not to transmit alerts by satellite.--The
election by a covered service provider under subsection (a)(3)
not to transmit emergency alerts by satellite shall not, by
itself, provide a basis for liability against the provider
(including its officers, directors, employees, vendors, and
agents).
(d) <<NOTE: Definition.>> Covered Service Provider.--In this Act,
``covered service provider'' means a provider of commercial mobile
service that--
(1) voluntarily elects to transmit emergency alerts under
section 602(b) of the Warning, Alert, and Response Network Act
(Public Law 109-347; 42 U.S.C. 1201); and
(2) makes satellite voice and data communications service
available to subscribers of the commercial mobile service of the
provider.
Approved October 22, 2026.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 7022:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 119-616 (Comm. on Energy and Commerce).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 172 (2026):
Apr. 20, considered and passed House.
Sept. 30, considered and passed Senate.
<all>