AOL to begin transmitting abducted-children alerts

WASHINGTON -- The nation's largest Internet service, America Online, will begin transmitting Amber Alerts about abducted children onto the screens of computers, pagers and cell phones of more than 26 million subscribers in dozens of states and cities.

Beginning in early November, warnings issued across the patchwork of communities that use the system will go to AOL users in those areas who request to receive them.

Amber Alerts began in Arlington, Texas, after the 1996 abduction and murder of 9-year-old Amber Hagerman. Law enforcement agencies send to broadcasters descriptions of the missing children, their abductors or other information. The alerts also are broadcast on electronic highway signs.

President Bush is appearing Wednesday at the White House Conference on Missing and Exploited Children in Washington, amid efforts by activists to expand such electronic notification systems.

Some states already send Amber alerts via e-mail. But the AOL announcement is nationwide and can reach people through the AOL service on their computer desktop, cell phone or pager.

AOL's 26 million members can pre-register by entering their ZIP code to receive alerts in any of the states, counties and cities that participate. Travelers and people near state borders can enter multiple ZIP codes, said AOL spokesman Nicholas Graham.

Thirty-two children have been found as a result of Amber Alert, including several rescued this summer.