Recent Storms Affirm ALERT FM Use in Decatur County
Messages sent successfully

Decaturville, Tennessee- April 30, 2010- Decatur County emergency management director Kevin Cagle was pleased to announce today that the county’s new emergency notification system, ALERT FM, successfully sent  weather warnings and post storm information from the emergency management office to citizens, businesses, and first responders during last Saturday’s severe thunderstorms and tornado. The National Weather Service confirmed an F1 tornado touched down near Bible’s Hill area in Decatur County.  Funding for this system was obtained through a multi-county grant applied for by the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.

“ALERT FM is a great tool for our county,” Cagle said. “I was able to keep citizens updated on the path of the tornado, how to take shelter, and what help was available to them after the tornado dissipated.”

ALERT FM delivers geo-targeted information via the data subcarrier of local FM radio stations, WFGZ (94.5), WLVS (106.5), and WKJQ (97.3), so that Decatur County officials can reach thousands of citizens with a single message. To be able to receive this timely information, citizens and business must own an ALERT FM receiver, which is available for purchase at the Radio Shack in Parsons TN or at www.alertfm.com for around $40.

Receivers can be programmed to receive county specific NWS weather warnings and emergency management public information. Because ALERT FM has been implemented as a regional system across western Tennessee, citizens and business can also chose to have additional counties programmed into their receivers.

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“We are pleased that so many individuals and businesses are making a commitment to their personal safety by utilizing this new technology”, Jim Lowery, general manager of Global Security Systems, LLC (owner and operator of ALERT FM), said.

For more information visit www.alertfm.com.

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About ALERT FM
ALERT FM is owned and operated by Global Security Systems, LLC (GSS) of Jackson, Miss. It is a personal alert and messaging system that enables state and local government and private sector officials to create and send emergency information to targeted recipients. Potential information includes severe weather warnings, homeland security notices, hurricane evacuation instructions, utility notices, plant or school closings, employee notifications and traffic alerts. First responders, school officials, citizens, and businesses can receive this information based on geographic or organizational groupings through specially designed ALERT FM receivers or any device equipped with a standard FM chip. ALERT FM has been implemented at the university, state, county and multi-county levels. More than 30 million people in 13 states have access to ALERT FM technology.

Decatur County AFM severe weather press release.pdf (84.28 kb)

from the Laurel Leader Call 4/27/2010 http://leadercall.com/local/x1687726092/Potential-severe-weather-threat-looms-for-weekend

Potential severe weather threat looms for weekend
Heavy rainfall threat also forecast

By Lance Chancellor Jones County EMA Public Information Officer
 Laurel Leader-Call

LAUREL — Jones County Emergency Management Agency Director Don McKinnon and staff at the Jones County Emergency Operations Center along with Jones County Fire Coordinator Dan McKenna participated in a Web-based National Weather Service briefing Monday afternoon.

Meteorologists with the National Weather Service in Jackson discussed a potential severe weather threat for the entire State of Mississippi beginning Friday around noon and extending into Saturday.

While preliminary in nature, the threat may be as serious as this past weekend’s severe weather which impacted Mississippi with severe thunderstorms, high winds, hail and tornadoes all possible. In addition, a heavy rainfall event is forecast with total rainfall accumulations in the five inch range possible by Monday evening.

This is a developing weather situation for late this week but bears watching closely as the severe weather indices are aligning closely with the values from this past weekend’s severe weather and may impact the same areas. Jones County was under a Tornado Warning on Saturday for a period of time; however, no damage was reported from the tornado.

A NOAA weather radio which broadcasts emergency weather information is a proven lifesaver and is available from local retailers in the Pine Belt. In addition, Alert FM receivers are available which also broadcast severe weather alerts. Tornado warning sirens are designed to alert citizens who are outside their residence or business and may not be able to be heard inside homes or vehicles which offer barriers to the warning sound generated by sirens.

Media Contact 866-920-MEMA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 22, 2010

STATE-WIDE ALERT FM IMPLEMENTATION COMPLETE

PEARL, MS – The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Director Mike Womack announced today that MEMA has completed the expansion of their state-wide ALERT FM implementation. ALERT FM is an FM radio- based emergency notification system which allows MEMA to send targeted information to county emergency managers, disabled persons, schools, businesses, and citizens. A grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency was used to fund this project.

This system delivers geo-targeted digital information via the Radio Broadcast Data System -data subcarrier- of FM radio stations, so thousands of recipients can receive emergency information from MEMA in mere seconds. This information can be received on either fixed or mobile ALERT FM receivers today, or on other consumer devices such PDAs, cell phones and other specialized receivers in the future. Types of notifications might include severe weather warnings, homeland security notices, and hurricane evacuation notices and instructions.

“The system provides targeted notification capabilities beyond our existing alert and warning systems, and it is implemented in neighboring states in the event of a mass evacuation, said Womack. “Mississippi is committed to protecting our citizens against hazardous situations, and ALERT FM will be a key tool in our preparedness tool box.”

Following a successful 2005 pilot project MEMA was able to secure a $1 million Hazard Mitigation Grant to expand the ALERT FM system to include additional radio stations for full coverage statewide. Today over 80 FM radio stations around Mississippi are a part of “GSSNet” for state-wide emergency notification with the capability of reaching the state’s approximate 3 million residents.

Mississippi’s state wide system is fully compatible with ALERT FM systems implemented in counties around Mississippi, contiguous states, and across the United States. Any ALERT FM receiver is fully functional in these areas provided it is programmed for that area.

“ALERT FM provides valuable information to citizens and businesses across the State of Mississippi no matter if they are at home or work or traveling throughout the state,” Robert L Adams, CEO of Global Security Systems, LLC.

For more information visit www.msema.org or www.alertfm.com. ###

http://www.msema.org/documents/AlertFM4.22.10.pdf

GSS Alert FM

from Radio Magazine Apr 1, 2010 12:00 PM, By Matthew Straeb

http://radiomagonline.com/studio_audio/EAS/radio_gss_alert_fm/index.html

FM radio-based alert and messaging systems enable emergency management personnel to create and send radio data alerts and messages to targeted recipients. The single-point to multi-point messaging functionality utilizes the overlapping data signal of existing FM stations to provide redundant emergency notification capability. These systems can deliver emergency information through FM data subcarriers, SMS (text messaging) to mobile phones, and e-mail. They are a great complement to outdoor warning sirens or telephone-based mass notification systems whose performance can be adversely affected by clogging and power outages, which occur in emergencies. FM radio-based alert systems can distribute messages received countywide in less than 60 seconds.

Dedicated receivers like this wall-mount unit can provide FM-based emergency alerts.

Message origination and system administration is handled through a Web-based portal, which can be accessed via any secure Internet connection. The portal allows the users to create groups and subgroups based on geographic or organizational classification. Messages can be pre-scripted or canned as well as custom-made. The portal also features the history of all messages including the sender, specific content, time and date stamp, and destination. An automated data feed for National Weather Service warnings mean users can program their receivers to get these local weather warnings.

All FM radio-based alert systems servers are hosted in reputable, third-party data hosting centers and accessible by secure login. Data is backed up each night using a third-party data archiving service. These systems feature data communications using satellites in addition to terrestrial Internet, which allows for full system operations even if power is interrupted at the emergency operations center or at an FM transmitter. This satellite data transmission between the servers and the FM stations also adds a security layer to the system. The entire system is closed between the administrative portal, where the data is entered, and the receivers.

The FM chip

The FM chip is one key to interoperability. This single-to-multi-point radio broadcast system uses the Radio Broadcast Data System (RBDS) subcarrier datacasting, layered in need-to-know groupings based on an existing communication infrastructure — the country's nationwide FM broadcasting network. Targeted alerts and messages are delivered by satellite to FM transmission towers and can be received on Alert FM receivers and other mobile devices. Millions of Americans, including countless first-responders and public safety workers, have the potential to receive alerts and time critical information with the activation of the standard FM chip.

Most people are still surprised when cell networks cannot handle the extra load during emergencies. The reality is that cell phone networks are switched (point-to-point) and were not designed to handle the loads put on them today. Even more alarming is the lack of awareness that wireless carriers have the potential to further safeguard individuals and communities with the activation of a standard FM receiver chip that exists in most cellular handsets today, which is capable of receiving personal alert messages from a standard FM radio tower used to listen to your favorite music. This capability can be used while not interfering with normal cell phone usage.

FM chips are readily available for insertion into cell phones and are used extensively outside the US. The consumers are offered easy access to FM stations and data via the open service business model adopted in Europe and Asia. This means the carriers provide the service and offer users a la carte services without tying them to a particular phone or cell service. This has resulted in more than 40 percent of the market using FM radio and receiving important data using the cell phone. Secondly, the technical barriers of battery drain and internal antennas have been overcome. The chips available provide signal sensitivity capable of tuning and receiving FM radio signals without external headset antennas. Coupled with tuning and battery-saving software, the tuner wakes and goes back to sleep. The same software is used in GPS receivers, NOAA weather data receivers, alert receivers, smoke detectors and other consumer devices to preserve battery life.

Currently, a FEMA study program is in place to provide global government adoption of the FM radio-based alert technology and applications into the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Infrastructure. As part of this adoption, FM radio-based alert products will be added to the IPAWS qualified products list (as a message disseminator) and eligible for deployment across the United States.

Fixed and mobile

Today FM radio-based alert systems can feature fixed and/or mobile receivers. The receivers are programmable for up to 30 groups and services, have siren- and text-alert capabilities, and powered by a combination of battery and ac power. They are capable of receiving messages from any FM station on its network, so customers, may use their receivers anywhere there is GSS FM coverage. This feature is particularly beneficial during evacuations.

These systems can be fully CAP compliant, which will allow for full integration with third-party systems such as reverse 911 telephone systems or sirens. Many times a user will already have other notification technologies and he wants the new FM radio notification capability added to his existing system. This integration capability and open architecture allows these systems to be expanded into new applications in the future. They can also be activated via existing alert and warning systems.

Support groups

As emergency communication channels continue to receive scrutiny, the role of broadcasters will advance as the FM network infrastructure is considered to provide efficient and solid support for the vigorous delivery of time critical, life-saving messages.

Specifically, the Commercial Mobile Alert Services Advisory, born out of the Warning Alert Response Network Act (WARN Act) to facilitate the wireless devices such as cell phones to adopt alerting technologies. The Federal Communications Commission took a number of steps in facilitating the ability of consumers to receive emergency alerts through their wireless phones. In 2008, the Commission issued a series of orders adopting requirements for a Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS), a system by which commercial mobile service (CMS) providers may transmit emergency alerts to their subscribers.

A Consumer Electronics Association industry-working group (R6 WG16 Fixed and Mobile Alert Warning Devices) has been established to provide best practices and guidelines receive Common Alert Protocol (CAP) alert data and use on fixed and mobile consumer electronics devices.

As officials and the public consider alternatives to cellular voice calls, text messaging is frequently discussed as a safe alternative during emergencies. Text messaging, including applications based on Short Message Service protocol, is its own worst enemy during a perceived or real emergency. Network overload and inoperability are problematic, and there is a security issue due to the dependence on Internet connectivity to interconnect the communications channel.

The cell network infrastructure is vulnerable, connected to a maze of landline telephone switches, and encryption is not supported all the way to the wireless receiver. In comparison, FM radio-based alert systems use a dedicated satellite and secured channels so there is no possibility of public access to the network. In a crisis, these systems have a guaranteed channel that offers protective umbrella coverage for certified command and controlled messages to be delivered with a guaranteed source and encryption all the way to the receiver. Satellite coverage is essential to bridge the post-disaster communications breakdown that occurs after every significant hurricane or earthquake.

As broadcasters remain on the front lines of providing emergency information to their audiences, it is exciting for stations to be a part of the existing EAS, as well as new initiatives designed to provide a more comprehensive solution for emergency communication.

Straeb is executive vice president of Global Security Systems, Jackson, MS.

For an update on current FEMA IPAWS projects, visitwww.fema.gov/emergency/ipaws/systemenhancements.shtm

004rad19 (1).pdf (399.09 kb)

from Inside Radio http://www.insideradio.com/Article.asp?id=1762296&spid=33231

Two states back Alert FM.
 

The New Jersey and Missouri State Broadcasters Associations have joined Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee in supporting Alert FM’s text message-based EAS distribution system.  It uses FM stations’ RDBS to deliver emergency messages to FM-enabled cell phones.

New Jersey Broadcasters Association president/CEO Paul Rotella says, “In any emergency, FM radio’s single-point to multi-point transmission assures the delivery of critical information to an infinite number of FM-enabled devices simultaneously -- a huge advantage over wireless broadband’s point-to-point system which overloads and jams in that scenario.”

from the People Sentinel 2/11/2010 http://www.thepeoplesentinel.com/news/special-fm-radio-secondary-weather-and-urgent-alert-system-county

Special FM radio is a secondary weather and urgent alert system for county

By  Tim Hicks - Managing Editor 
Published on Thursday, February 11, 2010 - 2:08pm  | News

It has the size and appearance of a small digital travel alarm clock.

However, if this alarm sounds, it signals a possible emergency, not the start of another day.

Barnwell County Emergency Management obtained the 500 Alert FM radios, which are about the size of a cell phone. With its protective cover flipped over, the radio looks like a desktop digital clock.

Right now the radios are being made available to emergency responders and police, but eventually the public will be able to buy them, said Roger Riley, the Barnwell County Emergency Management director.

The radios transmit weather warnings from the National Weather Service and - its bigger feature - customized messages from Barnwell County Emergency Management.

The customized messages would alert the appropriate agencies or areas in the case of a localized emergency, such as a lost child or major accident, he said.

"It doesn't play music and you won't know it's there until it goes off," said Riley.

The radio would not sound for weather watches, only warnings, he said.

A warning, such as a tornado warning, means conditions are imminent for that particular storm or it is already occurring in the warned area. A watch means that weather conditions are favorable for severe weather in the watch area.

Riley received the radios through a $250,000 U.S. Department of Commerce grant. The grant paid for the radios and the installation of six transmitters in Aiken, Barnwell and Allendale counties, which are the first three counties in the state to try this system, he said.

"We have not had to spend a dime on this," Riley said.

All total, the three counties received 3,500 radios, he said.

Most areas in Alabama and Mississippi are covered with this alert system, Riley said.

Alert FM is meant as a secondary form of alerting the public in case of an emergency such as tornado or hurricane warnings, he said.

"These are not a primary notification system. It's secondary and works off of FM radio signals. It's just a back-up system," Riley said.

If a National Weather Service warning were to occur in this area, then the radio would chime and the owner could scroll through the radio's LCD display to read the warning.

Riley has been custom programming the radios since receiving them about two weeks ago. These will go to different agencies.

Riley is looking for a local retail store in Barnwell County willing to buy its own inventory of radios to sell. The radios for the general public would retail for about $40 and would receive transmissions from the National Weather Service and Barnwell County Emergency Management. The retailer would have to be trained to program in the radio signals for a Barnwell County general alert, he said.

The radio would be somewhat cheaper than the all-weather radios which receive constant meteorological bulletins and cost about $60, Riley said.

"Other than (storm) watches, it does the same thing," he said of the Alert FM radios.

from Radio Online http://news.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/rol.exe/headline_id=b12321

ALERT FM Gain Support of Broadcast Associations 

The New Jersey and Missouri State Broadcasters Associations have joined Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee in the support of Alert FM, the FM radio-based personal alerting and messaging system from Global Security Systems (GSS). Using existing FM data subcarriers, Alert FM allows local, state and national emergency managers to deliver emergency alert messages to any electronic device with an FM receiver.

"In any emergency, FM radio's single-point to multi-point transmission assures the delivery of critical information to an infinite number of FM-enabled devices simultaneously -- a huge advantage over wireless broadband's point-to-point system which overloads and jams in that scenario," stated President/CEO Paul Rotella of the New Jersey Broadcasters Association. "Expanding the availability of FM on a variety of devices and implementing Alert FM at local radio stations will save more lives."

In a response to more than 60 members of Congress who have advocated the inclusion of FM receivers on mobile phones for Emergency Alert System (EAS) notifications, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski stated that cellular companies must develop a Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) by 2012. Incorporating FM receiver chips could help achieve this goal.

"The activation of the standard FM receiver chip that already resides in the majority of mobile phones in use in the U.S. will save lives right now," stated President/CEO Don Hicks of the Missouri Broadcasters Association. "By putting Alert FM into operation, radio can provide an immediate and highly effective emergency Alerting system that optimizes the existing FM infrastructure to reach targeted or widespread groups of people with life-saving messages."

Alert FM will operate the FM radio-based personal Alerting system as part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) during the NAB Show, April 11-15, in Las Vegas. (04-07-10)

from Radio World 4/8/2010 http://www.radioworld.com/article/98116

ALERT FM Will be on Display in FEMA booth 

The developers of Alert FM have gained more support in efforts to expand the use of their RDS-based alerting system.

Global Security Systems says the New Jersey and Missouri State Broadcasters Associations have joined those in three earlier states — Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee — in support of its personal alerting and messaging system, which uses the FM infrastructure.

Its system allows emergency managers to deliver alert messages to electronic devices that have FM receivers. GSS has been active in pushing for electronics manufacturers to expand the availability of FM on mobile and other devices.

The company quotes supportive comments from Paul Rotella, president and CEO of the New Jersey Broadcasters Association, and Don Hicks, who holds the same jobs for the Missouri Broadcasters Association.

Rotella stated that in emergencies, "FM radio's single-point to multi-point transmission assures the delivery of critical information to an infinite number of FM-enabled devices simultaneously — a huge advantage over wireless broadband's point-to-point system which overloads and jams in that scenario."

GSS also reported that in March, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski replied to members of Congress who had written to him about the potential of having FM receivers on mobile phones for EAS purposes. He replied that cellular companies must develop a Commercial Mobile Alert System by 2012. "Incorporating FM receiver chips could help achieve this goal," GSS stated.

GSS also recently added the communications services of Renee Cassis, who is familiar to many in the radio broadcast industry from past work at the Radio Advertising Bureau.

And at the NAB Show in Las Vegas, which opens this weekend, the company plans to operate Alert FM as part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's exhibit of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, or IPAWS. FEMA will be in Booth C2052.

ALERT FM Gains Support of New Jersey and Missouri State Broadcast Associations for its FM Radio-Based Personal Alert Messaging System

ALERT FM will Operate its System at the FEMA Booth during NAB

Las Vegas, NV – April 7, 2010 – The New Jersey and Missouri State Broadcasters Associations have joined Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee in the support of ALERT FM, the FM radio-based personal alerting and messaging system from Global Security Systems (GSS).   Using the existing FM data subcarrier known as Radio Data Service (RDS), ALERT FM allows local, state and national Emergency Managers to deliver emergency alert messages to any electronic device with an FM receiver, including those that are wireless or mobile.

“In any emergency, FM radio’s single-point to multi-point transmission assures the delivery of critical information to an infinite number of FM-enabled devices simultaneously -- a huge advantage over wireless broadband’s point-to-point system which overloads and jams in that scenario,” noted Paul Rotella, President and Chief Executive Officer, New Jersey Broadcasters Association.   “Expanding the availability of FM on a variety of devices and implementing ALERT FM at local radio stations will save more lives.”

In a response to more than 60 members of Congress who have advocated the inclusion of FM receivers on mobile phones for Emergency Alert System (EAS) notifications, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Julius Genachowski stated that cellular companies must develop a Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) by 2012.  Incorporating FM receiver chips could help achieve this goal.
 
“The activation of the standard FM receiver chip that already resides in the majority of mobile phones in use in the U.S. will save lives right now,” stated Don Hicks, President and Chief Executive Officer, Missouri Broadcasters Association.   “By putting ALERT FM into operation, radio can provide an immediate and highly effective emergency alerting system that optimizes the existing FM infrastructure to reach targeted or widespread groups of people with life-saving messages.”

“We are grateful to Paul and Don for their support of FM radio-based emergency alerts in their respective states of New Jersey and Missouri,” said TJ Lambert, Chief Operating Officer, ALERT FM.  “By advocating the accessibility of FM on an extensive array of devices, including those that are mobile, radio can continue to make a difference in the lives of the people in the markets they serve.”

ALERT FM will operate the FM radio-based personal alerting system as part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) during the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show, April 11 to 15 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, in Booth C2052. 

For more information, contact ALERT FM at 601-709-4240 or visit www.alertfm.com.

About ALERT FM:

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), Global Security Systems (GSS), and other radio industry stakeholders continue to pursue multiple avenues for expanding the availability of FM radio service in cellular handsets, including direct discussions with cellular operators regarding market-based steps. NAB also works to educate Capitol Hill, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on the public benefits of deploying FM radio in cell phones, such as expanding the reach of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) to mobile devices, and furthering the goals of the WARN Act of 2006, which directed commercial mobile service providers to voluntarily participate in an emergency warning system.

The advent of new technologies (i.e., integrated FM antennas, power-saving and low profile chipsets) has made inclusion of an FM radio in cell phones, MP3 players, emergency alert receivers such as GSS ALERT FM, and other fixed/mobile consumer electronics devices, a technically feasible solution that will benefit consumers.  For alerting purposes in particular, FM radio’s nationwide and redundant coverage provides the ideal vehicle for delivery of the in-depth, critical information needed by the public during times of emergency or disaster which only broadcasters can provide.  The more targeted, data-based alerting services provided by GSS and other providers which make use of Radio Data System (RDS) FM subcarrier technology likewise benefit from the ubiquitous nature of FM radio.

Media Contact:
Renee Cassis
646-808-6505
cassis2@msn.com

NJ-Missouri PR - v.7.doc (28.50 kb)

from Radio Business Report 4/7/2010  http://www.rbr.com/radio/23145.html

New Jersey and Missouri broadcasters embrace Alert FM

The New Jersey and Missouri State Broadcasters Associations have joined Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee in supporting Alert FM. The FM radio-based personal alerting and messaging system will get a pitch next week in Las Vegas when it will be demonstrated at FEMA’s NAB booth.

Alert FM from Global Security Systems (GSS) uses the existing Radio Data Service (RDS) system to allow local, state and national emergency managers to deliver emergency alert messages to any electronic device with an FM receiver, including those that are wireless or mobile.

“In any emergency, FM radio’s single-point to multi-point transmission assures the delivery of critical information to an infinite number of FM-enabled devices simultaneously – a huge advantage over wireless broadband’s point-to-point system which overloads and jams in that scenario,” noted Paul Rotella, President and CEO, New Jersey Broadcasters Association.   “Expanding the availability of FM on a variety of devices and implementing Alert FM at local radio stations will save more lives,” he added.

More than 60 Members of Congress have advocated the inclusion of FM receivers on mobile phones for Emergency Alert System (EAS) notifications. That prompted a recent rash of letters from FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski noting that cellular companies must develop a Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) by 2012. One way to achieve that is Alert FM, although Genachowski noted that the FCC’s standards for CMAS “do not require or prohibit the use of Alert FM.”

“The activation of the standard FM receiver chip that already resides in the majority of mobile phones in use in the U.S. will save lives right now. By putting Alert FM into operation, radio can provide an immediate and highly effective emergency alerting system that optimizes the existing FM infrastructure to reach targeted or widespread groups of people with life-saving messages,” said Don Hicks, President and CEO, Missouri Broadcasters Association.

“We are grateful to Paul and Don for their support of FM radio-based emergency alerts in their respective states of New Jersey and Missouri. By advocating the accessibility of FM on an extensive array of devices, including those that are mobile, radio can continue to make a difference in the lives of the people in the markets they serve,” said Alert FM COO TJ Lambert.

Alert FM will operate the FM radio-based personal alerting system as part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) during the NAB Show.

RBR-TVBR observation: While only the text messaging capability of Alert FM would be necessary for the cellular companies to comply with CMAS standards, Emmis CEO Jeff Smulyan and other broadcasters have been lobbying the mobile phone companies for years to include a fully functional FM receiver in their handsets. It would be a win-win for broadcasters and the cell companies. The audio service would add value in emergency situations, above and beyond the emergency text messaging. At other times, people would be free to listen to local radio and not tie up bandwidth on the cell system just to listen to music.

As Rotella noted, point-to-multi-point FM delivery would be far more reliable than cellular texting to individual phones. It would also, as Smulyan has pointed out repeatedly, save the wireless phone companies a lot of money over developing and maintaining their own alerting system.