Nebraska Public Media Consolidates Crisis Communication Medium
Nebraska Public Media enhances emergency communication capabilities with Digital Alert Systems' DASDEC platform
Nebraska Public Media, a statewide broadcaster, is deploying Digital Alert Systems' DASDEC Emergency Alert System (EAS) messaging platform at all its radio and television stations. This step is part of the organization's effort to implement IP infrastructure and prepare for the transition to ATSC 3.0.
According to Al Krause, network operations manager at Nebraska Public Media, the broadcaster is installing approximately 20 DASDEC units to provide redundancy and regional capabilities for emergency messaging. This move aims to improve the broadcaster's ability to serve the people of Nebraska during critical events more effectively.
The DASDEC platform offers Nebraska Public Media greater flexibility in sending alerts and targeting specific regions. Previously, the broadcaster could only trigger events across the entire state. With DASDEC, the broadcaster can now send statewide messages and regionalize emergency alerts by using DASDEC units at specific radio transmitter sites. This capability ensures that only affected listeners in a specific geographic area receive the warning instead of interrupting the entire state during emergencies.
Besides regionalization, the DASDEC system offers satellite-redundant mode for Emergency Action Notification (EAN) coverage. In case the IP network, the primary method of alert delivery, fails, the DASDEC units serve as backups for delivering critical emergency alerts. DASDEC devices installed at each FM site can receive alerts via SiriusXM, a secondary source of presidential alerts and EAN messages, independent of the IP network. This setup ensures continuous primary alert delivery, effectively eliminating the IP network as a single point of failure.
Nebraska Public Media appreciates the DASDEC's ease of use, modern audio connections, programmable GPIO, and streamlined user interface compared to its previous emergency messaging system. Phil Gebers, broadcast engineer at Nebraska Public Media, commends the DASDEC's alert node simulator, programmable GPIOs, and internal tuners.
Bill Robertson, vice president of business development at Digital Alert Systems, praised Nebraska Public Media's implementation of the DASDEC system. He expressed confidence that the broadcaster will elevate its TV side in a similar manner when the transition to ATSC 3.0 occurs. In addition to the DASDEC units, Nebraska Public Media has also purchased Digital Alert Systems' HALO enterprise-level EAS device management system, which the broadcaster will implement following the DASDEC rollout.
The implementation of the DASDEC system by Nebraska Public Media underscores the importance of robust and responsive emergency communication systems, particularly in states prone to numerous weather events. The transition to ATSC 3.0, which includes enhanced EAS capabilities, is expected to further improve emergency communication in the United States.
- Digital Alert Systems' DASDEC platform, installed by Nebraska Public Media, allows for targeted regional emergency alerts, enhancing the broadcaster's ability to efficiently serve the people of Nebraska during critical events.
- The DASDEC system's satellite-redundant mode for Emergency Action Notification (EAN) coverage offers Nebraska Public Media a backup method for delivering critical emergency alerts if the IP network fails.
- Nebraska Public Media's deployment of Digital Alert Systems' DASDEC platform and HALO enterprise-level EAS device management system is a significant step in the general news sector, showcasing the importance of data-and-cloud-computing technology and preparedness for business transitions like the upcoming ATSC 3.0.
