This is a technology solution for audio and text emergency alerts to all devices with an FM receiver – including those that are mobile. Global Security Systems (GSS), manufacturer of the ALERT FM radio-based alert system and Sage Alerting Systems, manufacturer of broadcast alerting gear, announced an agreement that advances the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP)-based EAS system for radio broadcasters, and meets Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Open Infrastructure requirements.
The Sage Digital ENDEC, the GSSNet satellite delivery network, and CAP origination tools provide an end-to-end CAP source, transport, and broadcast dissemination system. The combined benefits include addressable satellite-delivery of CAP-originated EAS audio and EAS text messages for radio broadcasters, and dissemination of first-generation digital audio and text for display on any FM receiver with RBDS, as well as being HD-compatible.
Geo-targeted emergency info, including National Weather Service, local, state, and federal messages is included. Alert FM receivers can also be added to the system to provide text and audio delivery with sounders and flashing lights for disabled, elderly, home, and business use.
Said Robert Adams, GSS CEO: “We are delighted to partner with them to disseminate emergency alerts through our GSSNet satellite systems, and also to send text & audio to devices with an FM receiver chip. By adding FM-based RBDS alerts to the FM audio alert, we significantly increase the ability to reach the largest number of people possible in an emergency.”
“The GSSNet Satellite Network is a significant contribution to our Internet delivery and station-to-station relay capabilities,” stated Harold Price (President), Sage Alerting Systems. ”The Internet can degrade from high-usage during an emergency, and the daisy-chain relay method can breakdown in areas less densely covered by broadcast stations. The GSSNet network can reach anywhere in the continental US.”
A regional installation in Texas will be the first to take advantage of the GSS-Sage partnership. The installation will provide individual data-delivery to each transmitter site and mitigate the risks associated with daisy-chain and Internet systems. Pilot programs in other states will soon provide a state-wide implementation utilizing the Sage and GSSNet infrastructure.
RBR-TVBR observation: Having a mobile device without an FM chip in a time of local or national emergency isn’t going to cut it. However, this solution provides multiple redundancy and adds more localized data to mobile devices that may be unable to receive emergency info over their cellular-based broadband networks.
