EchoStar may need 12-18 months after creation of a Dept. of Homel...
EchoStar may need 12-18 months after creation of a Dept. of Homeland Security emergency alert portal to upgrade its network for disseminating local alerts, it told the FCC. In separate meetings, DirecTV predicted a 12-month lag. EchoStar told the…
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FCC set-top boxes now in production could be capable of generating a text pop-up EAS message and an audible tone -- assuming DHS’s portal uses certain technical protocols and message limits. DHS hasn’t defined protocol specifications for a central EAS portal it’s working on, EchoStar said. DHS should perform a coordinated EAS test among multiple platforms before implementing its final system, it said. Sirius and XM are assessing the utility of sending local alerts via their national satellite platforms. Sirius told FCC staff it could send alerts if DHS aggregates and authenticates them at a central portal. State or local alerts would air on one of 11 Sirius traffic and weather channels, it said. Those channels cover 20 U.S. metro areas, Sirius said: “If federal agencies make available consolidated and authenticated information regarding emergencies affecting one of those cities, Sirius has volunteered to broadcast such an alert on the appropriate channel.” Sirius said subscribers could be warned that an emergency alert is being broadcast on another channel much as “game alerts” air on certain Sirius radios. Current receivers wouldn’t be capable of such an alert cue, but that could be technically feasible on future units, Sirius said.