Mobile Emergency Alert System

The Mobile Emergency Alert System (M-EAS) is an information distribution system that utilizes the existing digital television spectrum and towers to provide information in emergency situations using rich media. The system can push text, web pages, and video to compatible equipment such as mobile DTV devices. [1][2]

Proponents of the technology point to modern reliance on mobile communication technologies and ailures of the cellular network due to overload, power outage or other emergency related damage. M-EAS does not rely on the network of cellular towers and makes use of existing digital television broadcast equipment. Standards associated with M-EAS are being completed at the time WRAL-TV, the first commercial broadcaster in the United States to roll out the system, by the Advanced Television Systems Committee as part of ATSC-M/H.[2]

A similar system in Japan is credited with saving many lives ahead of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "M-EAS explained". WRAL-TV.
  2. 1 2 TVTechnology: WRAL-TV to Demo Mobile EAS
  3. ↑ Mobile Emergency Alert System Promises Flexible New Option for Emergency Managers and First Responders : PBS
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