Communications and Technology Subcommittee holds hearing on future of emergency alert systems

The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Communications and Technology Subcommittee recently held a hearing discussing the nation’s emergency alert systems and how technological advancements could alter their future.

“Outfitting first responders with the robust capabilities of broadband communications is essential,” U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, chair of the subcommittee, said. “In those times when catastrophe looms and the lives of hundreds, thousands, even millions – are at risk or a child is missing, the necessity of ensuring the best available tools are available to local, state, and federal authorities to alert the public cannot be understated.”

Farrokh Khatibi, director of engineering at Qualcomm, spoke on the advancements of the wireless industry in first responder communications, stating that the industry is extending the alert message length from 90 to 360 characters for 4G LTE networks and improving geographical targeting.

One option discussed during the hearing was software that allowed for targeted delivery of emergency alerts, which allows alert originators and wireless providers to geo-fence messages to any size.

Sam Matheny, CTO at the National Association of Broadcasters, spoke positively of the work of local broadcasters in disaster situations, stating that broadcasters invested heavily to ensure they remain on-air in emergency scenarios and that their infrastructure allowed, in many cases, to be the only medium available for citizens in certain situations.

“Broadcasters are willing and ready to make the necessary investments in our infrastructure to provide what we believe will be truly groundbreaking improvements to free, over-the-air television for the benefit of viewers across the country,” Matheny said.