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NAB's Smith Touts Radio-Enabled Mobile Devices
RADIO ONLINE | Friday, June 17, 2011 |
NAB President/CEO Gordon Smith responded to a letter from several wireless and technology associations dismissing the benefits of radio-enabled mobile phones. In Smith's reply, he noted that more than 241 million Americans rely on local radio every day to provide news and important information. "As such, radio has long served as a critical lifeline for information during natural disasters and local emergencies, utilizing the emergency alert system."
Smith pointed to the last three months in Hawaii, Texas, Alabama, North Carolina, other parts of the South, Missouri and Massachusetts, where public safety is not just about brief warnings. "Often the public needs more information. In these situations, there is no communications system that matches the life-saving immediacy of a local broadcast signal," he added.
He continued, "We are pleased that mobile phone carriers are fulfilling their promise to Congress to enhance public safety by introducing an emergency alert messaging system, and we agree that it can be a supplement to the CUlTent EAS system. However, unlike broadcasting, the wireless industry's approach will be limited to a 90 characters message, which includes letters, numbers, spaces and punctuation. These warning messages are also subject to interruption or delay when a cellular network goes down."
A recent survey by Raycom Media followed the rash of tornados that devastated much of Alabama in late April. Of the random sampling of 1200 citizens in four Alabama areas, the survey showed that 32.6% were getting their storm information while 36.3% of 18-24 receive warnings via radio. In fact, over 85% relied on radio and TV to track the storms.
"For the safety of your constituents," Smith concluded, "incorporating broadcast radio into mobile phones should be a critical component of any next-generation wireless emergency alerting solution. A mobile handset with radio reception provides consumers with one-stop shopping for both emergency alelis and in-depth emergency information. Text-based warnings alone cannot provide this information."
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