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other things, it proposes examin-
ing the feasibility of establishing systems to offer EAS alerts via audio and video streaming services deliv- ered over the internet.
Given the ubiquity of smartphones and the ability to send targeted alerts to a user’s mobile device, some might question the need to expand broadcast emergency alerts to streaming media services. Yet the fact remains that at home, individu- als may not always be close enough to their smartphones to hear or
see an alert, necessitating other approaches to make sure that as many people as possible are notified of impending danger.
To ensure that alerts sent through EAS reach the right people, accurate device and location data is critical. Providers of streaming services may not know where users are watching or listening to streaming media or what devices they are using. Users could be watching Netflix movies on their smartphones in hotel rooms, streaming music at Starbucks or using iPads at airports.
Additionally, providers would need a process for deciding who should receive a given alert. The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System uses the Federal Information Processing Standards’ geographical identification codes to determine EAS alerting areas, and the system
is monitored by local radio and TV broadcasters as well as cable and satellite companies. If Netflix, Hulu and others were to install EAS equip- ment, they would need a strategic method of monitoring all FIPS codes across the U.S. and then disseminat- ing alerts accordingly.
Another barrier to broadcast- ing targeted alerts via streaming services may be the virtual private networks consumers often use to securely connect to the internet. VPNs give individuals access to TV
shows and movies that they would not be able to access locally, but they make users’ actual IP addresses unavailable to the content suppliers. With 18% of American internet users relying on VPNs in a given month, service providers can never be 100% sure of a user’s location, meaning it would be an uphill battle to ensure that people are receiving the appro- priate alerts.
Finding opportunities in the challenges
Every challenge offers an opportu- nity. Streaming media services may unlock new possibilities when it comes to the structure and delivery of alerts. The blaring emergency alert might grab people’s attention, but it doesn’t necessarily provide the contextual information to help them take appropriate action. Experience in enabling government agencies, public safety departments, law enforcement agencies and busi- nesses to deliver emergency mass notifications has shown that alert messaging, timing and consistency are critical to keeping people safe.
When agencies consistently con- struct their alerts, individuals will learn how to see, hear and read the warnings and understand their sig- nificance. For example, using consis- tent introductions will help people become familiar with the alert messaging format so they can easily recognize different types of alerts. For optimal results, agencies should also regularly test alert delivery and content, including evaluating optimal timing and what information should be provided.
In addition, delivering emergency alerts through streaming media services may offer an opportunity to provide better contextual informa- tion than the TV and radio “sirens” and smartphone emergency messag- es. The streaming information could
include a weather map showing the precise location of a hurricane, evacuation routes during a wildfire or street closures for a shelter-in- place scenario.
As policymakers and regulators consider streaming media services as a delivery mechanism for emer- gency alerts, it is inevitable that some will also look at the capa- bilities of IoT-enabled smart home devices, including digital assistants, smart fridges and home security systems.
However, hacking is a concern for all emergency alert channels, and those devices may prove particularly vulnerable. Consider the scare a San Francisco family received earlier this year when a hacked Nest cam- era played a loud alert signal and warned of North Korean missiles directed at Los Angeles, Chicago and Ohio. This cautionary tale should remind agencies to not only deliver emergency alerts in a timely fashion but ensure that the alerts have not been compromised and cause panic. Worse yet, rogue warnings could undermine confidence in the EAS to the point that citizens tune out real alerts.
What were once nontraditional modes of consuming content have become, for the most part, com- monplace. Therefore, evaluating
the feasibility of streaming media services for emergency alerts is a healthy conversation to have. The more ways that individuals can be reached before, during and after an emergency the better. Whether it’s through a streaming service, a “tra- ditional” route or even smart home devices, it’s vital that as many people as possible get timely, pertinent information so they can make sound decisions in an emergency. n
Troy Harper is general manager of the public sector at OnSolve.
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