ATIS/TIA Release Commercial Mobile Alert System Standard and Leverage this Success to Support PBS Efforts
April 7, 2011 — Washington, DC — The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) and the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) have approved publication of the Joint ATIS/TIA CMAS Federal Alert Gateway to CMSP Gateway Interface Test Specification, which provides for the certification and testing of the Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) “C” interface. The new standard, J-STD-102, defines operational testing procedures for the communications between the Federal Alert Gateway and the Commercial Mobile Service Provider (CMSP) Gateway over the “C” interface. This interface was initially defined in J-STD-101, Joint ATIS/TIA CMAS Federal Alert Gateway to CMSP Gateway Interface Specification, and outlines the secure interface between the Federal Alert Gateway and the CMSP Gateway.
Developed with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS), J-STD-102 and J-STD-101 will help to ensure the FCC’s April 2012 deadline for the deployment of CMAS by participating CMSPs is met.
“The collaboration around providing timely standards critical to CMAS development, testing, and deployment is an example of the public-private partnership at its best,” said Susan Miller, ATIS President and CEO. “This latest specification provides a key element allowing the establishment of the interface between CMSPs and FEMA, enabling service providers and the government to leverage the benefits of next-generation communications technologies to deliver the public potentially life-saving benefits.”
“Consensus-based standards are key to ensuring that operational testing procedures remain on schedule for essential emergency communications in the 21st century that take advantage of the latest advances in technology,” said TIA President Grant Seiffert. “At TIA, we look forward to continuing to work jointly with ATIS to guide the standards development processes for CMAS that are vital to our national health, security and emergency preparedness goals.”
The CMAS network will allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to accept and aggregate emergency alerts and warnings of imminent threats to life and property, Amber Alerts, and Presidential emergency messages, and to send those alerts over the “C” Interface to participating CMSPs. These CMSPs will then broadcast the alerts to subscribers with CMAS-capable devices.
The availability of the two aforementioned joint standards comes at an important time. FCC requirements for CMAS also require public broadcast television to support an alternate means for delivery of alerts to participating CMSPs. Because of the progress made in this area, Public Broadcasting System (PBS) contacted ATIS to seek support in developing a “C1” Interface between PBS’s television broadcasting stations and the CMSP gateway as an optional alternate path for CMSPs to receive alerts from the FEMA Federal Alert Gateway over PBS’s digital television transmissions. In collaboration with one of ATIS’ newest members — PBS — ATIS, TIA, and the government are currently developing the “C1” Interface, anticipated for completion in 3Q2011.
Access the Joint ATIS/TIA CMAS Federal Alert Gateway to CMSP Gateway Interface Test Specification, J-STD-102 and the Joint ATIS/TIA CMAS Federal Alert Gateway to CMSP Gateway Interface Specification, J-STD-101.
About ATIS
ATIS is the leading technical planning and standards development organization committed to the rapid development of global, market-driven standards for the information, entertainment and communications industry. More than 200 companies actively formulate standards in ATIS’ 16 Committees, covering issues including: IPTV, Cloud Services, Energy Efficiency, IP-Based and Wireless Technologies, Quality of Service, Billing and Operational Support, Emergency Services, Architectural Platforms and Emerging Networks. In addition, numerous Incubators, Focus and Exploratory Groups address evolving industry priorities including Smart Grid, Machine-to-Machine, Networked Car, IP Downloadable Security, Policy Management and Network Optimization.
ATIS is the North American Organizational Partner for the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a member and major U.S. contributor to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio and Telecommunications’ Sectors, and a member of the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL). ATIS is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). For more information, please visit www.atis.org.
About TIA
The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) represents the global information and communications technology (ICT) industry through standards development, advocacy, tradeshows, business opportunities, market intelligence and world-wide environmental regulatory analysis. Since 1924, TIA has been developing standards to enhance the business environment for broadband, mobile wireless, information technology, networks, cable, satellite and unified communications. Members’ products and services empower communications in every industry and market, including healthcare, education, security, public safety, transportation, government, the military, the environment and entertainment.
TIA is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Visit www.tiaonline.org.
