[EAS] Multilingual support for CAP messages

[Ed Czarnecki]

Dave - a few answers below

1. Which decoders were confirmed to support a broadcaster indicating which
language they want?  Or not support?
>>A:  Both the DASDEC and One-Net can provide multiple language support.
The broadcaster can choose which primary language to use for EAS, and which
languages (if any) they want to add as follow on (post alert) audio.  This
is designed in conformance with the ECIG guidance on multilingual EAS
messaging that the FCC adopted.  Currently supported languages include (just
for example), English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Hmong, Somali,
Polish, Lithuanian ...
 
 2. In an alert carrying more than one language, which decoders successfully
(or unsuccessfully), chose the correct one to broadcast?

>> A:  For devices that are multilingual enabled, such as the DASDEC,
messages are filtered on the language tag in the CAP message.
>> A:  For non-multilingual devices, the bilingual NPT tests seem to have
showed that they simply process the English portion of the CAP message, and
disregard the rest.

 3. If you, say, specify Spanish, but an alert only has content tagged as
English, will the English version be aired?

>> A:  The DASDEC provides several options, including usage of the English
message if no Spanish is present, or providing a translated Spanish EAS
message.

 4. Did the alerts include both text and audio for both languages involved?

>> A:  Do you mean did the IPAWS CAP message contain both text and audio?
Yes, the CAP contained two "info blocks" one in English with the alert audio
embedded as mimetype in the message itself, followed by a Spanish info block
with had a Spanish audio message embedded as mimetype.
>> Importantly, we're also providing full text to speech support in multiple
languages, so if the audio resource was not present, or unreadable, the
message would be converted to TTS in a Spanish voice (or other selected
language).

Are there any jurisdictions that are currently issuing multilingual alerts
routinely... or planning to in the near future?  If so, I'm curious about
the practical issues of generating a multilingual alert in a timely manner.

>> A:  The state of Minnesota has a multilingual EAS program in place.  I
can point you to the right contacts there if you want to discuss this
further with them.  There is a great video somewhere with MN Broadcasters
Association and the state EOC that discusses the project - I will try to dig
up and post.
>>The Minnesota approach is multifaceted, with the state EOC using a CAP
originator that can compose alert messages in multiple languages (DASEOC),
and EAS CAP devices throughout the state (DASDECs) that can both process
these multilingual CAP messages, as well as do some alert translation of
English-only CAP and broadcast EAS messages.

Ed

-----Original Message-----
From: eas-bounces at radiolists.net [mailto:eas-bounces at radiolists.net] On
Behalf Of Dave Turnmire

As I recall, last November's regional NPT test and the recent February test,
included tests of multilingual CAP messages.  I'd like some clarification
regarding the current support for this.  For instance:

 1. Which decoders were confirmed to support a broadcaster indicating