NAB: Broadcasters Are Answering Calls for Reliable Emergency Info

Broadcasting, both radio and TV, is the most reliable communications service during emergencies, the National Association of Broadcasters told the Federal Communications Commission in comments on the robustness of 911 service after the "Derecho" storms that pounded the Washington (DC) area and other parts of the East Coast in late June.

NAB cited the storms as only the most recent example of the robustness and redundancy of broadcasts of detailed emergency info. It also used the comments to ask the FCC to encourage wireless carriers to given consumers better info on what mobile devices have active FM chips that allow those phones to be broadcast receivers as well. NAB has long complained that though the majority of those devices have an FM chip for Bluetooth, most not been activated for radio reception.