[EAS] NEW YORK CITY UNVEILS FIRST-IN-THE-NATION PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM; ENABLED MOBILE DEVICES WILL RECEIVE EMERGENCY ALERTS AT CRITICAL MOMENTS WITH POTENTIALLY LIFE-SAVING MESSAGES

[Richard_Rudman]

Interesting announcement today in New York that is intended to broaden warnings.

Note that the FCC has made a special effort to say that this system "complements" the EAS.

It apparently broadens the strict definition of what an AMBER event is, though.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/fema-fcc-launching-new-alert-system-early-in-dc-and-nyc/2011/05/09/AFdHA7cG_print.html

Richard Rudman

>> PLAN complements the existing Emergency Alert System, which is implemented by the FCC and FEMA at the federal level through broadcasters and other media service providers. Like the Emergency Alert System, which is a modernization of the earlier Emergency Broadcast System (1963-1997), PLAN is intended to keep up with new technologies that can keep Americans safer.  This modern, integrated and complementary alert system provides significant public safety roles for broadcasters, cable service providers, wireless service providers and other service providers.

>>                                                                Covers Only Critical Emergency Alerts:  Consumers will receive only three types of alerts from PLAN: (1) alerts issued by the President; (2) alerts involving imminent threats to safety of life; and (3) Amber Alerts.  Participating carriers may allow subscribers to block all but Presidential alerts.