[EAS] NWS Fun

Sat Aug 11 19:43:02 CDT 2018

Barry,

NWS uses WEA, just like it uses EAS.  FCC regulates WEA, the carriers provide the technical platform and release a specification with FCC.  Alert originators then have to change their software to match the new spec.  The most recent FCC report and order is here:

https://www.fcc.gov/commission-releases-order-improving-wea-accuracy-and-requiring-preservation-alerts

I believe this R&O requires the carriers to implement "geo-fencing" - a technically challenging issue for the carriers.  That means, when they can, the device helps to decide if it is inside the alert area or not.  Since today's WEA messages are tower based and some towers can broadcast far outside the alert area, in theory, this should reduce over warning - especially FFW's in rural areas/out west.  It also requires the alerts to be stored on the phone for 24 hours (on iPhones, the alerts disappear very quickly, for example - better read it right the first time).  An earlier report and order required, if I remember, an increase to 360 characters, ability to deal with Spanish and English, include a URL or phone number, and provides for a test code.

I believe it goes into affect in November of '19, which means new phones purchased after that date must include the new features.  FCC held a number of meetings and did the normal process of accepting comments prior to the R&O's.  At some point in these process, any software used by alert originators will need to updated to take advantage of new features (like 360 character messages)

Device turn over is fast, but not as fast it used to be, so it will be quite a while before all phones are WEA 2, or eWEA, or whatever capable.  in simple fashion, geo-fencing is difficult because devices use a number of tools to determine location, including distance from towers and distance from known Wifi access points (the value of the data Google collected with their cars).  After that, they use GPS, but GPS mostly works outside and is very slow, not so accurate perhaps taking longer than the period of the alert. 

FYI, I'm not with NWS these days (now with NOAA Satellites) so I don't know the current state any work NWS is doing when it comes to the new rules.  The data mentioned surprises me, since last I heard the types of WEA messages sent by NWS was very limited and did not include some of the codes mentioned.  I likely need to stop using my work email address for this and resub using my private email!

Bob

On Sat, Aug 11, 2018 at 1:53 PM, Barry Mishkind <barry at oldradio.com> wrote:
>At 08:16 AM 8/11/2018, Robert Bunge - NOAA Federal wrote:
>>WEA 2.0 (or whatever they are going to call it) will change a number of functions/features.  Time will tell!

>        When?  What features?  Any chance
>        users will get to find out in time to
>        offer comments, or is the NWS going to
>        do what it wants and then tell us?

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