Florida’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis has addressed a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with a clear demand: halt the use of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System.
The catalyst for this demand appears to have been an event on October 4th, where the FCC dispatched a nationwide emergency test text message across all mobile phones, wireless gadgets, televisions, and radios. The test has stirred controversy and considerable feedback, with Patronis being one of the most vocal critics.
Patronis didn’t mince words, stating, “What was the point of that? Was it really necessary? The federal government scared about 70% of Americans with that alert, and in my opinion, this was government overreach at its finest.” As the State Fire Marshal, Patronis sees himself not just as a financial overseer but also as a protector of Floridians’ safety and rights. His concern is that this system gives the federal government an avenue to contact Americans directly on their smartphones. He argues this bypasses necessary permissions and can be seen as an overreach, regardless of which political party is in control.
In a climate where public trust in the government and big corporations is waning, Patronis believes that the distinctions between Big Tech and Big Government are blurring. He highlighted that it’s a crucial time when the government should be focusing on regulating Big Tech and safeguarding citizens’ privacy.
One of the central tenets of his argument is regional relevance. According to Patronis, there’s no rationale for a resident on the West Coast to receive alerts about incidents on the East Coast. State authorities, he believes, are more apt at handling and disseminating information during emergencies.
CFO Patronis concluded his letter with a plea to the FCC Chairwoman, Jessica Rosenworcel, urging her to end the use of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. He wrote, “State Emergency Management Directors are more than capable of protecting and alerting their own citizens during emergencies without the federal government needlessly getting in the way.”
The ball is now in the FCC’s court. Patronis awaits their response.
See his letter below
