Mobile DTV gets multimedia emergency broadcast alerts

The Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) has begun to standardize an all-new broadcast emergency alert system, making it possible for future viewers to receive more than just text alerts when dangerous weather or other emergency conditions threaten public safety.

The Mobile Emergency Alert System (M-EAS) enhancements to the existing standard will provide capabilities for delivering multimedia alerts (utilizing video, audio, text, and graphics) to mobile DTV-equipped mobile phones, tablets, laptops, netbooks and in-car navigation systems. M-EAS requires no additional spectrum and is an additional use of existing TV transmitters and towers.

“The ability to reach millions of people with a single transmission avoids the chronic congestion of other communications networks during emergencies. This inherent scalability always has been one of the biggest public service benefits of broadcasting in times of emergencies. And, at this stage of mobile DTV’s evolution, we believe the time is right to standardize mobile emergency alerts. We’re moving ahead with a proposal to include the methodology for providing emergency information to mobile/personal/handheld TV receivers,” said ATSC President Mark Richer.

The ATSC’s decision to standardize M-EAS follows a nationwide pilot project that delivered rich multimedia emergency alerts to prototype mobile DTV receivers and proved the viability of M-EAS. The year-long pilot project was undertaken by the Public Broadcasting Service and LG Electronics, co-funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, LG and Zenith, and received technical support and additional funding from NAB Labs, Roundbox and Harris Corporation.