Federal · H.R. 7022, signed Oct. 22, 2026

Mystic Alerts Act (H.R. 7022): new federal law sets up emergency alerts sent to phones by satellite, with no extra fee

Signed Oct. 22, 2026 · FCC rules come first

Published October 26, 2026 · Last updated October 26, 2026

What it does

The law provides “for the transmission of emergency alerts by satellite.” It works alongside the existing system under the Warning, Alert, and Response Network Act, the law behind Wireless Emergency Alerts on cell phones. (Enrolled text, title and sec. 2(a)(1))

• Which companies. A “covered service provider” is a wireless carrier that (1) voluntarily takes part in sending emergency alerts under the Warning, Alert, and Response Network Act and (2) makes satellite voice and data service available to its mobile customers. (Sec. 2(d))
• A required choice. Within 60 days after the FCC’s final satellite-alert rule takes effect, each covered carrier must file an election with the FCC saying whether it will send emergency alerts by satellite to customers whose devices can receive them. (Sec. 2(a)(1))
• If a carrier says yes. It must notify the FCC and agree to follow the FCC’s technical standards. It may not charge a separate or additional fee for satellite alerts. If you have opted out of emergency alerts, or of certain classes of alerts, the carrier must keep those alerts from reaching your device by satellite too. (Sec. 2(a)(2), (4), (5))
• If a carrier says no. It must notify new and existing customers of that choice, the same way carriers must notify customers today if they do not take part in emergency alerts. (Sec. 2(a)(3))
• Liability. A carrier that sends satellite alerts and meets its obligations under the law is not liable to customers for sending or failing to send a satellite alert, or for releasing customer information to public safety agencies in connection with delivering an alert. Choosing not to send satellite alerts is not, by itself, a basis for liability. (Sec. 2(c))

What the FCC must do

• Proposed rules within 6 months of enactment (by about April 22, 2027). (Sec. 2(b)(1))
• The rules must take into account what satellites can transmit and what phones can receive and display, and must minimize the impact on other voice and data communications, including 9-1-1 calls. (Sec. 2(b)(2))
• Final rules within 18 months of enactment (by about April 22, 2028), in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the FEMA Administrator. (Sec. 2(b)(3))
• Effective date. The final rule takes effect on the later of 36 months after it is published in the Federal Register, or 12 months after Homeland Security and FEMA put in place the standards needed to pass alerts from alert originators to carriers. (Sec. 2(b)(4))

Who it affects

• Cell phone users in South Carolina whose carrier offers satellite service and whose phones can receive satellite alerts. (Sec. 2(a)(1), (d))
• Wireless carriers that take part in emergency alerts and offer satellite voice and data service. (Sec. 2(d))

What it means for you

• Nothing changes on your phone now. Emergency alerts keep working the way they do today until the FCC’s rules are written and take effect. (Sec. 2(a)(1), (b))
• Satellite alerting is optional for carriers. If your carrier takes part, you will not pay extra for it, and your current alert opt-out settings will apply. If it does not, it has to tell you. (Sec. 2(a)(3)–(5))
• Because the final rule takes effect at least 36 months after publication, satellite alerts under this law are several years away. (Sec. 2(b)(3)–(4))

Current status

Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas) introduced H.R. 7022 on January 12, 2026. The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted 52-0 on March 25, 2026 to report it (H. Rept. 119-616), and the House passed it by voice vote on April 20, 2026. The Senate Commerce Committee was discharged and the Senate passed it without amendment by unanimous consent on September 30, 2026. It was presented to the President October 15 and signed October 22, 2026. As of October 26, Congress.gov does not yet list a public law number. (Congress.gov, actions)

What happens next

The FCC must publish a proposed rule by about April 22, 2027 and a final rule by about April 22, 2028. Carriers then have 60 days after the rule takes effect to tell the FCC whether they will send satellite alerts. (Sec. 2(a)(1), (b))

Sources

• Congress.gov: H.R.7022, Mystic Alerts Act, actions and status
• Enrolled bill text, H.R. 7022

Every statement above is drawn from the official source text linked here; section references are shown in grey. This is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. Spot an error? Tell us.