[EAS] The coming evolution of CAP-EAS

[Richard_Rudman]

Recent posts on this and other lists prompted me to write the following:

The more we can do to encourage a public at risk to leave the normal human state we call "denial", move to acceptance and ultimately take actions to protect their lives, limbs and property, the better. I see and agree with the point of recent calls for enhanced EAS messaging, but we need to get beyond the current state of CAP/EAS development to be able to implement this in a meaningful way, while retaining the core role of EAS as a warning system for clear and present danger to life, limb and property.

Now and for the foreseeable future we are going to be dealing with a hybrid system -- a mix of CAP and legacy EAS. Yes, some current CAP/EAS solutions can do enhanced EAS messaging (and more) now, but as far as the general public at risk is concerned, all they can get right now is legacy EAS.

The first way we could move toward enhanced CAP messaging might be to ask all emergency management warning originators to include risk maps and other graphics in CAP/EAS messages by using URL's instead of actually shipping graphics, videos or sound files -- all within the current CAP spec. Downside: URL's would be mostly useful to TV stations/cable EAS, but not to radio at this point. Would IPAWS OPEN support that now for local/state EM people who get certified? Good question that FEMA can answer for us.

Classic EAS as we know does not and cannot support URL transmission to the public. Relaying enhanced information to the public would currently require sending emails/text messages. CMAS, allowing only 90 characters, could not support most URL's unless they were first processed through the Tiny URL site. 

Looking far down the road, my EAS/CAP wish list starts off with CAP-aware end user warning appliances that can receive fully enabled CAP messages without the current need to always fully interrupt main audio or video on-air program streams. Such "appliances" might be part of the next generation of radio RDS, radio HD, and cable video display technology. How about CAP-aware car and portable radio receivers that can store or display information?

Support information such as Frank suggests could not only be delivered to such devices, but this information could trigger user-programmed alarms at 3 AM, activate external devices to warn people with hearing or sight impairment, and eventually link to language translators specially written and  "trained" for warning messages.

Richard Rudman
Core BWWG Member
Vice Chair, CA SECC