Digital Emergency Alert System
Encyclopedia
The Digital Emergency Alert System (DEAS) was a system managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) and designed to alert first-responders and civilians in the event of a national emergency. It was based upon and supplemented the Emergency Alert System
(EAS) by sending out text, voice, video, and other digital messages to mobile phones, pagers, radios, and televisions.
Although the Emergency Alert System and its predecessor, the Emergency Broadcast System
and an even earlier predecessor CONELRAD
, have always allowed the transmission of both video and audio, there have been limitations that would be eliminated by the DEAS. For example, the DEAS allowed the ability to broadcast "bottomless" audio messages (i.e. a message with no definite ending) and streaming video. It also allowed near-instantaneous transmission without the delays that occur as EAS alerts trickle through the system.
' PBS member station, KLVX
, was the first station in the United States to demonstrate what digital television has to offer in times of emergency.
As of 2005, the system was in the final stages of its development with an expected activation and roll-out in southern and eastern states by the end of 2006 and elsewhere by the end of 2007. Such deployment, however, has not happened.
In 2007 and 2008, the Federal Communications Commission
proposed and adopted the network structure, operational procedures and technical requirements for the Personal Localized Alerting Network (PLAN) system. It mandates that new cell phones be manufactured with a special chip capable of receiving emergency text messages including alerts issued by the president
, information about public safety threats and Amber Alert
s for missing children.
Federal Emergency Management Agency
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders...
(FEMA) and designed to alert first-responders and civilians in the event of a national emergency. It was based upon and supplemented the Emergency Alert System
Emergency Alert System
The Emergency Alert System is a national warning system in the United States put into place on January 1, 1997, when it superseded the Emergency Broadcast System , which itself had superseded the CONELRAD System...
(EAS) by sending out text, voice, video, and other digital messages to mobile phones, pagers, radios, and televisions.
Although the Emergency Alert System and its predecessor, the Emergency Broadcast System
Emergency Broadcast System
The Emergency Broadcast System was an emergency warning system in the United States, used from 1963 to 1997, when it was replaced by the Emergency Alert System.-Purpose:...
and an even earlier predecessor CONELRAD
CONELRAD
CONELRAD was a method of emergency broadcasting to the public of the United States in the event of enemy attack during the Cold War. It was intended to serve two purposes; to prevent Soviet bombers from homing in on American cities by using radio or TV stations as beacons, and to provide...
, have always allowed the transmission of both video and audio, there have been limitations that would be eliminated by the DEAS. For example, the DEAS allowed the ability to broadcast "bottomless" audio messages (i.e. a message with no definite ending) and streaming video. It also allowed near-instantaneous transmission without the delays that occur as EAS alerts trickle through the system.
History
In 2004, Las VegasLas Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
' PBS member station, KLVX
KLVX
KLVX is a Public Broadcasting Service member public television station, serving the Las Vegas DMA in Nevada. Owned by the Clark County School District, the station first signed on the air as Nevada's first public television station on March 25, 1968...
, was the first station in the United States to demonstrate what digital television has to offer in times of emergency.
As of 2005, the system was in the final stages of its development with an expected activation and roll-out in southern and eastern states by the end of 2006 and elsewhere by the end of 2007. Such deployment, however, has not happened.
In 2007 and 2008, the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
proposed and adopted the network structure, operational procedures and technical requirements for the Personal Localized Alerting Network (PLAN) system. It mandates that new cell phones be manufactured with a special chip capable of receiving emergency text messages including alerts issued by the president
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, information about public safety threats and Amber Alert
AMBER Alert
An AMBER Alert or a Child Abduction Emergency is a child abduction alert bulletin in several countries throughout the world, issued upon the suspected abduction of a child, since 1996...
s for missing children.
See also
- Personal Localized Alerting Network
- Common Alerting ProtocolCommon Alerting ProtocolThe Common Alerting Protocol is an XML-based data format for exchanging public warnings and emergencies between alerting technologies. CAP allows a warning message to be consistently disseminated simultaneously over many warning systems to many applications...
- Commercial Mobile Alert SystemCommercial Mobile Alert SystemThe Commercial Mobile Alert System , also known as the Personal Localized Alerting Network , is an alerting network designed to disseminate emergency alerts to mobile devices such as cell phones and pagers...