that if one link in the dissemination of alert information is broken, the public has multiple alternate sources of warn‐ ing.
Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS)
The FCC has established the CMAS to allow wireless service providers choos‐ ing to participate to send emergency alerts to their subscribers. During 2007 and 2008, the FCC proposed and then adopted the architecture and frame‐ work requirements, the technical requirements, and operating proce‐ dures for the CMAS. While much work has been done, the exact date that CMAS will become operational depends on many factors, and is still probably at least two years in the future. Most major wireless service providers have told the FCC they will participate, although some have indi‐ cated they may not be able to provide alerts to all customers immediately after CMAS starts operation. Additional smaller providers may decide to partic‐ ipate later when all technical issues are resolved and they can better deter‐ mine their costs.
Accessibility Of Emergency Information
The FCC requires broadcasters, cable operators, and satellite TV providers to make local emergency information accessible to persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, and to persons who are blind or have visual disabilities. Thus, emergency information must be provided both aurally and in a visual format.
In the case of persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, emergency informa‐ tion that is provided in the audio por‐ tion of programming must be provided either using closed captioning or other methods of visual presentation, such as open captioning, crawls, or scrolls that appear on the screen. In the case of persons with vision difficulties, emer‐ gency information that is provided in the video portion of a regularly sched‐ uled newscast or a newscast that inter‐ rupts regular programming must be
Texas EMS Conference Booth #820
EMSPROMAG.com 31
made accessible. This requires the aural description of emergency information in the main audio. If the programmer provides the emergency information through “crawling” or “scrolling” dur‐ ing regular programming, this informa‐ tion must be accompanied by an aural tone.
If an emergency affects the broad‐ cast station or non‐broadcast network or distributor, it may be impossible for that broadcaster, network, or distribu‐ tor to provide accessible emergency information.
Emergency Preparedness And Crisis Information
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),
www.fema.gov, is responsible for responding to national disasters and helping state and local governments and individuals prepare for emergencies.
The Department of Homeland Security is responsible for preventing terrorist attacks within the United States and reducing America’s vulnera‐ bility to terrorism. DHS has established the homeland security advisory system, which rates terrorist threats to federal, state, and local authorities and the public. The system provides warnings through a set of graduated “threat conditions” that increase as the risk of the threat increases. State civil defense agencies alert the public of any changes to the threat level through the news media. EMS
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