[EAS] CMAS, CAP and EAS

[Marlin Jackson]

The web page for the State Toolkit is:
 
http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?&id=5830
 
There is a lot of good information in it.

 
Marlin Jackson, CSTE
Assistant Chief Engineer,
RF Systems
KXLY Broadcast Group
500 W Boone
Spokane, WA 99201
 
marlinj at kxly.com
509-329-4908
 
>>> "Ed Czarnecki" <ed.czarnecki at monroe-electronics.com> 5/16/2012 10:57 AM >>>
Adrienne - Short answer is, no, any governmental entity wishing to introduce
messaging into IPAWS will need to obtain some kind of CAP originator.

As outlined in FEMA's "State Toolkit", a local authority will need to follow
the four steps described below.  This is taken from FEMA's "State Toolkit
for Adopting IPAWS" (edited down to the basic points).  If anyone wants a
copy, let me know and I can send you a pdf.

Become Authorized IPAWS Users
Any qualifying public safety organization, recognized by appropriate state,
tribal, or territorial authorities may apply for authorization to use IPAWS
to send alerts to the public. Additionally, public safety organizations not
needing alerting authority may also apply to use IPAWS to exchange alert
information with other users compatible with the Common Alerting Protocol.
Each organization that becomes an IPAWS user is designated as a
Collaborative Operating Group or "COG." Each COG administers individual
member accounts through its software.

Step #1 - Select IPAWS compatible software
Access to IPAWS is free; however to send a message using IPAWS, an
organization must procure its own IPAWS compatible software. ...

Step #2 - Apply for a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with FEMA
To request to become a COG, an MOA governing system security must be
executed between the sponsoring organization and FEMA. Each MOA is
specifically tailored to the sponsoring organization and interoperable
software system....

Step #3 - Apply for public alerting permissions
State and local alerting authorities that want to send alerts to the public
through IPAWS must complete an application defining the types of alerts they
intend to issue and the extent of their geographic warning area. ...  In
order to ensure consistency with appropriate state, territorial or tribal
public alerting
plans, the application must be reviewed and signed by a designated state or
appropriate official before it is submitted to FEMA.

Step #4 - Complete IPAWS web-based training FEMA's Emergency Management
Institute (EMI) offers the independent study course, IS-247 "Integrated
Public Alert and Warning System." The course is online at:
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is247.asp