DHS, APTS Sign Agreement on National Alert System
The Dept. of Homeland Security and the Assn. of Public TV Stations (APTS) signed an agreement under which APTS will oversee the Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS) in the D.C. area, APTS officials confirmed Tues. Wireless carrier sources said several are likely to participate in the program, under which the carriers would target geographic areas or even specific groups of customers for text message alerts in national and local emergencies.
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APTS Pres. John Lawson told us the pilot will demonstrate the use of DTV datacasting for the new EAS and also explore interoperability between datacast for DTV and other networks such as the phone, wireless and cable systems. He said APTS wasn’t prepared to provide details now, but would release a full announcement the 2nd week of Oct.
The pilot would use public broadcaster WETA-TV’s bitstream, Lawson said, and PBS would carry the test data on its satellite network. Because APTS and DHS were trying to create the basis for an “all inclusive” EAS, “we do plan to work with the private sector -- the phone, cellular and cable TV industries.”
T-Mobile, Nextel, Verizon Wireless and AT&T Wireless are looked to for possible participation, but spokesman for the companies said Tues. the level of participation remained under discussion and many logistical questions remained. DHS originally hoped to have a program in place this year, but 2005 is starting to look more reasonable, sources said.
“They have been coming to the various carriers and saying what are your capabilities,” one carrier source said: “Some carriers have said we have the ability to target a specific geographic area.” The source said several questions must be answered, such as the capability of carriers in real world trials to deliver targeted text messages.
“DHS asked people to review different proposals and we agreed to do that - there really it no commitment,” a Verizon Wireless spokesman said. “We think the most effective way to approach any sort of text message alert system is by developing a uniform, national program for all wireless carriers and public safety officials. That’s why we've been actively participating in CTIA’s work in this area,” said a spokeswoman for AT&T Wireless: “Beyond that, it’s really premature for us to speculate on the feasibility of any particular program.”
T-Mobile said: “Exploring expanding the alert system to wireless is something we support and could provide critical information from the govt. to consumers in a national emergency.” - Howard Buskirk, Dinesh Kumar