Working Group 2:Next Generation Alerting

September 12, 2012

Co-Chairs:Damon Penn, Assistant Administrator, National Continuity Programs, DHS-FEMAScott Tollefsen, Co-Founder, Critical Alert Systems, LLC

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WG-2: Next Generation Alerting • Description: The Working Group shall explore all aspects of next generation alerting and develop

recommendations for CSRIC’s consideration regarding actions the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) should take to promote deployment of next generation alerting systems. The Working Group shall review alerting architectures, such as those used for the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), the Personal Localized Alerting Network (PLAN), and the distributed architecture presented by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Authority to the Citizen Alert (ATOCA) Working Group. The Working Group shall consider the manner in which these architectures, and any others under development, may interoperate and interconnect to assure effective delivery of alerts. In addition, the Working Group shall examine different communications distribution platforms, (e.g., Internet, Satellite, Digital Television (DTV) Datacast, etc.) for alert delivery and discuss how the various architectures exploit these distribution platforms. The Working Group shall also explore what alert delivery media (e.g., video, audio, text, graphics, etc.) can be used for the most effective delivery of next generation alerts and develop recommendations regarding how the receiving platforms (e.g., mobile phone and other wireless devices, broadcast, cable, satellite, laptops, tablets etc.) may best present the transmitted alerts to users.

• In addition, the Working Group shall develop recommendations regarding the technical and operational criteria under which next generation alerting participants can utilize the Internet and other broadband-based architectures. The operational criteria shall include the relationships among different entities, including, local, tribal, state and federal governments in generating and distributing alerts. The technical requirements shall include consideration of the Common Alerting Protocol and any other protocols for generating, formatting, and distributing alerts, as well as any security requirements (including any trust models) to mitigate potential threats and attacks on the alerting systems.

• Finally, the Working Group will explore and develop recommendations regarding the role of social media in next generation alerting systems, including how governments may integrate social media into their own alerting systems.

WG-2: Next Generation Alerting

Summary of Assignment

1. Explore all aspects of next generation alerting; and2. Develop recommendations for CSRIC’s consideration

regarding actions the FCC should take to promote development of next generation alerting systems:A. How alerting architectures may interoperateB. How architectures may exploit different platformsC. How various forms of delivery media may be usedD. How receiving platforms may best present alertsE. Technical and operational criteriaF. Role of social media in next generation alerting

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WG-2: Next Generation AlertingRelevant constituencies

Government and NGO alerting systems operators: DHS/FEMA for EAS and CMAS (PLAN, WEA), state/local systems, commercial developersDistribution platforms: wireless broadband providers, cable operators,

satellite direct-to-user operators, Internet service providersReceiving devices: manufacturers and applications developers for smart

phones, mobile phones, other handheld devices, enterprise computer systems, personal computers, televisions, radios

Content providers: broadcast, cable, satellite, and Internet programmers, social networking services, Internet-based news, commercial, and entertainment services

Access and functional needs interests: research and advocacy organizations

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WG-2: Next Generation Alerting

42 Participating Organizations as of September 10, 2012 Access Partnership - Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions - AT&T

– Cassidian Communications - CBS - CenturyLink - Comcast - Communications Laboratories - Convergence Services - Critical Alert Systems - Department of Homeland Security units - DirecTV - Elerts - Facebook - Federal Reserve System - Federal Emergency Management Agency - Gallaudet University - Global Security Systems - Google - Gulf States Regional Center for Public Safety Innovations - Hispanic Information & Telecommunications Network - Interop Technologies - Intrado - Iridium Satellite - MobiLaps - Monroe Electronics - Motorola Mobility - National Association of Broadcasters - National Cable & Telecommunications Association - Neustar - NOAA National Weather Service - Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Telecommunications Access - Sprint - Telecommunications Systems - T-Mobile USA - Time Warner Cable - Twitter - Verizon - Yahoo

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WG-2: Next Generation Alerting

Committees

1. Architectures and PlatformsCo-Chairs: Ed Czarnecki, Hisham Kassab, Brian Rosen

2. Technical and Operational CriteriaCo-Chairs: Ron Boyer, AnnMarie Cederberg, Brian Daly

3. Social Media AlertingCo-Chairs: Denis Gusty, Hisham Kassab

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WG-2: Next Generation Alerting

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Architectures and Platforms Committee topics

1.Handling multi-media alerts in different networks2.Adding new technologies into national alerting architecture3.Access for alert originators4.Data format(s) for alert messages5.Adherence to digital security standards6.Devices for receiving emergency alerts7.User control over receipt of alerts (opt in / opt out)

WG-2: Next Generation Alerting

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Technical and Operational Criteria Committee topics

1.Issues with communications systems and networks2.Key information absent from current alerts3.Techniques for geo-targeting alerts4.Emerging technologies

WG-2: Next Generation Alerting

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Social Media Alerting Committee topics

1.Understanding public response2.Importance for access and functional needs consumers3.Compatibility with other Internet tools

WG-2: Next Generation Alerting

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Next Steps

In-person meeting of WG-2 (all hands) today and of WG-2 Committees tomorrow

Telephone conference calls continue

Preparation of report and recommendations

Deliverable scheduled to be presented on Dec. 5, 2012