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Early warning systems for the public
The European Parliament has issued a Written Declaration acknowledging the importance of efficient early warning (EW) for citizens in case of imminent or developing major emergencies and with a view to reducing suffering and the loss of human life.
Acknowledging the importance of efficient early warning (EW) for citizens in case of imminent or developing major emergencies, and with a view to reducing suffering and the loss of human life, the European Parliament has recently issued a Written Declaration in which it:
- calls on the Member States and the Commission to implement the necessary processes and resources for developing an efficient EW system for citizens in case of imminent or developing major emergencies throughout the EU, and;
- calls on the Commission to present appropriate legislative proposals in this field, taking into account all the risks and policies involved.
This is a hot topic in the USA too, where the FCC has also recently issued a consultative document that proposes the establishment of a Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS), under which Commercial Mobile Service providers may elect to transmit emergency alerts to the public.
APCO International has filed a response to the initiative in the USA and a copy of that response is available below.
Coincidentally the Emergency Telecommunications Group of ETSI has been preparing a Technical Standard for the Requirements for Communications From Authorities/Organisations to Individuals, Groups of Individuals or the General Public in Times of an Emergency (ref: TS 102 182. Version 1.2.1), and the next version is expected to be published imminently (Version 1.3.1).
To enable BAPCO join the debate and represent the views of public safety professionals in the UK, the Association would like to receive your comments on the proposal made in the Written Declaration by the European Parliament and to the two documents referred to above.
