[sbe-eas] ATSC 3.0 Emergency Alerts Stalled? - Encryption was a higher priority?

[Ed Czarnecki]

Sean and all - 

I don't know this video blogger.  But there is an enormous amount in this video that is flat out incorrect, or misdirected.  Emergency alerts are not an "after thought"

I don't disagree with his point about the great focus on encryption/decryption.  That has occupied a great deal of industry's attention.  However, it is absolutely critical to note that EAS continues in ATSC 3.0 as specified in FCC Part 11, with the addition of various enhancements, such as emergency audio tracks, etc.  So, no, "emergency alerts" are not stalled in ATSC 3.0.  They continue as they are "intended" to by the FCC.

"Advanced Emergency Information" is not "emergency alerting" per se.  Definitely not EAS.  It is an optional service in a voluntary standard, intended to provide urgent messaging - including multimedia - to supplement official EAS, to convey information that is not EAS, and to highlight urgent actionable news/information to specific communities.

Some of you know that I've had a lot to do with the "Advanced Emergency Information" service - I wrote the original specification which was adopted as part of the ATSC A/331 standard.  I'm vice chair of the ATSC Advanced Emergency Information Implementation Team, and chair of the NextGen Video Information Systems Alliance, both of which have been principal contributors to the technical and standards development of "Advanced Emergency Information".

The entity that is referred to in the video is a lobbying / outreach group.  (We had strategic differences with that group, and the broadcast manufacturing community by and large has withdrawn from it - technology and standards efforts happen within ATSC (www.atsc.org) and the NextGen Video Information Systems Alliance (www.nvisa.org).

There are major efforts to move forward on Advanced Emergency Information.  We installed an end-to-end ATSC 3.0 system at the FEMA IPAWS TSSF, to begin objective evaluation of whether and how ATSC 3.0 can enhance public warning, including Advanced Emergency Information.   See an article on this at https://tvnewscheck.com/tech/article/nvisa-atsc-deploy-next-gen-atsc-3-0-warning-system-at-fema-ipaws-technical-support-service-facility/

Some of what is mentioned in the video is relevant.  TV sets with internal ATSC 3.0 receivers do not currently support AEI - that was a disappointing move by the CE industry.  However several broadcasters have deployed "Broadcast Applications" that do have AEI support.  The Broadcast Application is the user interface that is transmitted to the receiver.  Sinclair and NBC both showed their takes on broadcast applications at the last NAB show in Las Vegas, and we have a basic app in the FEMA IPAWS TSSF.  

In addition, for those that don't want to buy a whole new TV just for ATSC 3.0, reasonably priced set-top boxes are appearing, in the $150 to $250 range.  Several of these devices include their own applications, including on-board Advanced Emergency Information support.

However, yes, I do agree with the challenge that there is insufficient industry collaboration in the U.S. on several aspects of ATSC 3.0.  Advanced Emergency Information could be fairly to said to be one of those aspects.  Still, the technology is there (over 85% of TV stations use a DASDEC, and the AEI service is pre-positioned on every one of those devices).

So, just to clear the air a bit - the video identifies some bona fide issues. I, among others, strongly disagree with the filing referenced in the video.  Industry is moving ahead, with ATSC, NVISA and their respective members collaborating with FEMA IPAWS, investigating whether and how ATSC 3.0 enhances their public warning mission.  But that lobbying group seems to have put the cart way before the horse.

If you want to talk about AEI, ATSC 3.0, etc. feel free to ping me off-line (or on this forum if EAS related).

Lengthy rant mode /off ;)

Ed

Edward Czarnecki Ph.D.
VP Global and Government Affairs
Digital Alert Systems Inc.
www.digitalalertsystems.com

Chairman and Executive Director
NextGen Video Information Systems Alliance (NVISA)
www.nvisa.org


-----Original Message-----
From: sbe-eas <sbe-eas-bounces at sbe.org> On Behalf Of Sean Donelan
Sent: Sunday, July 28, 2024 11:06 PM
To: sbe-eas at sbe.org
Subject: [sbe-eas] ATSC 3.0 Emergency Alerts Stalled? - Encryption was a higher priority?


How is the ATSC 3.0 transition going.  Emergency alerts are an after thought.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhTmlGArB5o


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