Several broadcast technology developers say they can offer the FCC solutions that would push EAS beyond its current limits and possibly reshape emergency alerting in the United States.
The FCC is in the early stages of a proceeding exploring improvements to the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). The commission’s proposal doesn’t contain any new rules, but it does seek input on ways to reach more people with the appropriate warnings without creating alert fatigue.
In its comments to the FCC, HD Radio developer Xperi points to the benefits of its digital radio system and touts the heightened role it should play in any EAS modernization plan developed by the FCC.
The company says HD Radio technology goes far beyond what is possible with analog radio transmissions.
HD Radio already serves as a critical component to EAS, Xperi told the FCC in its comments, but “offers further enhancement of existing alerting systems.” In fact, it’s capable of some of the very things the FCC asks about in the NPRM, Xperi said.
“HD Radio’s emergency alerting capabilities currently enable emergency alerts containing rich content such as enhanced text notifications, visual information and multilingual messages to HD radio receivers,” Xperi stressed in its filing.
[Related: “FCC’s ‘Ground Up’ Review of Public Warning Systems Generates Buzz“]
Digital radio’s capabilities could also one day include transmission of short video files to alerts, wake-up signaling, auto-tuning functionality and even integration with smart-home devices, Xperi said.
The company said EAS and WEA should work in a complimentary fashion, pointing to the 2018 Camp Fire and 2020 North Complex fires, which caused the collapse of cell towers and the failed delivery of cell-based alerts.
Xperi says HD Radio, in particular, offers an established model for expanding the reach, capability, reliabilit, and redundancy of emergency alerting capability.
“Any consideration of overhauling or updating the framework for the WEA/EAS frameworks should first recognize the critical role that broadcast plays in ensuring the timely, reliable delivery of emergency alerts, particularly when other delivery formats fail,” wrote Xperi in its comments.
Meanwhile, Global Security Systems (GSS) is advocating for its satellite-fed alerting platform that utilizes the FM Radio Data System (RDS) subcarrier to deliver CAP messages.
In its comments to the commission, the company, which markets the Alert FM disaster warning system, demonstrated to the FCC how a satellite-connected FM Radio Data System (RDS) backbone for EAS can provide the speed, resilience and precision needed for effective life-safety communications.
GSS says that, unlike IP-based warning systems, Alert FM operates independently of the internet and wireless networks.
“This architecture ensures deterministic, nationwide delivery of authenticated, Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) polygon-based text alerts in under five seconds, supported by robust receiver standards and redundancy across diverse pathways,” the company told the FCC. “Importantly, it remains operational even when cyberattacks disrupt IP or cellular networks.”
GSS says Alert FM offers RDS-based alert services to government managers; it installs encoding gear at partner FM radio stations; and sells alert receivers to churches, schools and hospitals. There are more than 1,100 FM stations already participating in Alert FM, in states like Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Tennessee, California and Michigan.
The Alert FM receivers are available in multiple formats, including fixed wall units, portable devices and siren-control units, says GSS. The alerts can be received in classrooms, hospitals, businesses and large venues where cell phones may be silenced, out of coverage or turned off.
“Alert FM avoids reliance on IP and cellular networks through its satellite-fed distribution model. CAP alerts are distributed via the GSSNet satellite network in multicast to each participating FM transmitter, ensuring nationwide availability regardless of local connectivity conditions,” the company said. “Alert FM provides a third, independent path for emergency alerts, complementing EAS and WEA.”
By leveraging existing FM infrastructure and a satellite backbone, GSS officials say Alert FM delivers a cost-effective, resilient and standards-compliant solution to many of the issues identified by the commission.
GSS asks the FCC to recognize satellite-fed FM RDS alerting systems, such as Alert FM, as a qualified and standards-based pathway for public alerting.
To implement the change, GSS says it envisions the roll out of targeted incentives (e.g., grants for FM station upgrades in disaster-prone areas) and multi-state pilots integrating FM-RDS with EAS/WEA, focusing on wildfire, hurricane and seismic zones.
Reply comments on the FCC’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking are due by Oct. 10, but it is possible the federal government shutdown could affect deadlines.
[Related: “Broadcasters of All Sizes Share Ideas for the Future of EAS“]
