This document summarizes a presentation about using next generation broadcast technology (ATSC 3.0) to improve emergency alerting. It discusses how ATSC 3.0 allows geo-targeted, multi-media alerts to be delivered to a wide area through broadcast towers at a lower cost than cellular networks. The AWARN Alliance is testing an enhanced emergency alerting system using ATSC 3.0 and seeking partnerships with intelligent transportation organizations.

1. ITS America Detroit 2018
Emergency Responder Day
June 6, 2018
John Lawson
Executive Director
AWARN Alliance

2. Advanced Alerting with Next Gen TV (ATSC 3.0)

3. • Spectrum Co is a consortium of leading broadcasters that
is creating infrastructure and systems to provide a range
of advanced services in support of 21st century
transportation systems.
• Spectrum Co will be able to deliver large amounts of
data using robust low-band spectrum at a fraction of the
cost of traditional wireless networks.

4. Next Generation Broadcasting (ATSC 3.0)
• World’s first all-IP broadcast transmission
system
• Low-band, low cost
• Tall tower, high power ~ 50 mile range
• Infinite scalability for one-to-many use cases
• Interoperability with 4.9 GHz, 5.9 GHz, and
LTE/5G

5. Dallas Single Frequency Network

8. Broadcasters (Commercial)
Capitol Broadcasting Company
Pearl TV (8 of the largest TV groups)
Sinclair Broadcast Group
Broadcasters (Public)
Kentucky Educational Television
KPBS/Cal State University-San Diego
UNC-TV/University of North Carolina
WKAR/Michigan State University
WNET/New York
Service Providers
Convergence Services, Inc.
Lerman Senter PLLC
Wiley Rein LLC
National Organizations
Consumer Technology Association
Interactive Television Alliance
National Association of Broadcasters
Technology Providers
Aircode
LG Electronics/Zenith
Lokita Solutions/DigiCap
ONE Media
OpenZNet
Monroe Electronics/DAS
Spectrum Co
The Weather Co/IBM
Trilithic Inc.
Triveni Digital
AWARN Alliance, April 2018

9. AWARN Advisory Committee

10. USA–South Korea Global Alliance for
Advanced Alerting
NAB Show, April 2018

11. Northern California Wildfires, October 2017
Emergency alerts draw complaints in
fast-moving wildfires
By Paul Elias and Michael R.
Blood | AP October 12 at 9:37 PM
SANTA ROSA, Calif. — The story is
repeated again and again: The dead of
night, no warning, then panic after
realizing the smoke and flames were
approaching…
– Washington Post

12. Gatlinburg Wildfires, Nov-Dec 2016

13. “If you tell people to evacuate in 90 characters
without giving them instructions, all you’re
going to do is make the situation worse.”

14. NY & NJ Bomber, September 2016

15. Pressure on 9-1-1 Call Centers

16. Sometimes People Cannot Even Call
The day after Hurricane Irma hit
Southwestern Florida, only one full
power station (out of 96) was off-the air
in Florida, none in the Miami-Dade
DMA.
– Source: FCC Hurricane Irma Communications
Status Report for Sept. 11

17. Wireless Infrastructure Vulnerability
“Raging California wildfires
burned 80 cell towers, hampering
evacuation alerts”
– Mashable, October 17, 2017

18. AWARN: Major Upgrade to U.S. Alerting
• Geo-targeting – reduces over-alerting
• Rich media – photos, video, maps, evacuation routes
• Multilingual and accessible
• Deep indoor and mobile reception
• Device wake-up capability
• All IP integration with with other networks and social media
• Scalable to an unlimited number of devices
• Resilient – operates when cellular fails and grid is down
• Frees-up 911 and other vital 2-way communications

20. “Legacy” EAS message on cable TV

28. Active Shooter – Encrypted Content for First Responders
Source: WRAL

29. NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory

30. AWARN Alert Beta Development 2018-19
• Focus groups with local emergency managers
• A/B testing of end-user interface (UX/UI)
• Technical testing in Phoenix, Dallas, Cleveland, Raleigh, East Lansing
• “Hackathons” to test end-to-end interoperability of alerting and Next
Gen TV equipment and software
We invite participation by smart transportation sector!

31. Possible areas for AWARN-CAV cooperation
• Test ATSC 3.0 in CAV pilot projects
• Collaborate in ATSC 3.0 testbeds and hackathons
• Develop alert use cases to guide design and development
• Participate in planned EM focus groups for AWARN UX/UI
• Conduct joint social science research into:
• Effective multi-media alert messaging
• Focus on alert UX/UI in CAV’s
• Join AWARN Alliance

32. John Lawson, Executive Director
AWARN Alliance
jlawson@AWARN.org
www.AWARN.org
(703) 347-7070
John Hane, CEO
Spectrum Co
JH@thespectrumco.com
(202) 258-0224
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