CellCast Technologies has worked with the Civil Emergency Alert Service Association in the development of international standards and integration technologies that will allow access and use of existing wireless telecommunications broadcast messaging capabilities by authorized emergency and humanitarian agencies for the reduction of public vulnerability to imminent disaster threats.
Technology Summary
The standards for 2nd and 3rd generation cellular telecommunications identified two distinct methods of sending text and data information to the network terminals: SMS and Cell Broadcast.
Short Messaging Service (SMS) is used exclusively in the US markets because it is a point-to-point technology that requires back-registration with the network to identify and bill the subscriber for messages received. However, the standards recognize that this back-registry required additional spectrum consumption and as such could result in congestion of the network if a message must be sent to a large number of subscribers.
Cell Broadcast Messaging Service was included in GSM, UMTS, and IS-95 standards to complement SMS, delivering data in real-time to an unlimited number of subscribers. It also identified Cell Broadcast Messaging as a passive method of targeting recipients at their physical geo-location by allowing networks to limit the broadcast to a single tower, or an entire network with no additional burden on spectrum or the need for obtaining subscriber’s identity.
Although the issuing of public warning messages was stated as one of the reasons Cell Broadcast Messaging standards were developed, because the recipient could not be identified, and thus billed, Cell Broadcast Messaging appeared to have had little revenue potential to the cellular network’s subscriber-based revenue model.
CellCast Technologies has been actively working with technology vendors and emergency management agencies to promote further development of cell broadcast as a cross-network global solution to enhanced alert and advisory communication tools. CellCast is developing commercial models that would allow its deployment as a globally-harmonized, commercially sustainable feature.
Geo-Targeting Capabilities
The Cell Broadcast Messaging functionality is resident in 80% of the US 2nd generation mobile networks. It allows networks to selectively message subscribers by limiting the broadcast to only those cells serving a geo-targeted location. The Cell Broadcast Center examines the WGS84 protocol polygon. It then consults the network Cell Data File to determine which cells pertaining to that network are under the polygon. The result is a list of logical global addresses for the cells concerned and the Base Station Controllers that control those cells. The message is signaled to the Base Station Controller in a format proprietary to the switch vendor. It is then signaled to the control transceiver in the cell. The control transceiver then schedules the message to be transmitted on the air interface according to the standard for that system technology.
Granularity is directly proportional to population, allowing for the most precise delivery of information in high-census locations. The delivery area can range from a single block or building in urban areas to several square miles in more rural locations.
Alert Message
The average time from alert generation to reception by end device is thirteen (13) seconds.
2nd generation cellular technology can deliver a 1365 text character message to terminals operating within a targeted cell; however more than 182 is not recommended due to display constraints on most mobile phones. Text-to-voice applications are available for installation in the handsets. Distinct alert ring-tones are also available to announce receipt of a Cell Broadcast emergency message. Vibrators also operate if so set by the user.
Both network handsets and non-network (stand-alone) devices such as Cell-Broadcast N.O.A.A. receivers can receive and display Cell Broadcast data.
All terminals require use of a cellular network for delivery.
The number of citizens able to be accessed by Cell Broadcast EAS is totally dependent on the number and technology of the participating cellular networks. If participation includes both GSM and CDMA networks, 50 to 80 percent of the population could be immediately accessible.
Closed User Groups
There are 64,000 Cell Broadcast channels, some of which are not open to the public. Therefore federal authorities can create closed user groups, which can be ciphered if desired.
For example, such a group may be used to reach first responders or members of mutual aid organizations that have incompatible or non-coordinated technology. A mobile phone seems to be about the only equipment common to absolutely everyone.
Role of Citizen
The citizen-consumer must be provided educational and promotional information to know what networks are participating in the program and how to enable the feature on their handsets. Such access can be provided through a number of existing locations and sources to make the device enabling process uncomplicated.
Because Cell Broadcast messaging is passive, no direct charge for emergency messaging can be made.
CellCast Technologies provides installation, activation, and maintenance of the delivery system. Local, regional, or federal government agencies will be responsible for maintenance of the data origination systems.
Role of Vendor
CellCast Technologies is an integration and data management service company, enabling networks to link their subscriber-at-risk with authorized government-to-citizen information without modification or cost. CellCast in turn resells use of the networks’ infrastructure and spectrum to emergency agencies under the internationally recognized CEASa trademark, certifying that the message received is authenticated government instruction.
All deployment, maintenance, and operational tasks are administered by CellCast Technologies.
System Administration
CellCast Technologies utilizes a data broker program that enforces the Trust Protocols. The broker solution guarantees that policies (including the “trust protocol”) governing the procedures, performance, and use of private spectrum and assets are determined and agreed upon prior to an emergency situation, helping to eliminate confusion and delays in dissemination of critical pre- and post-event information.
Security
All message senders, (i.e. public safety officials) must have a valid account with the Cell Broadcast Broker. Accounts are created by a “gatekeeper,” a person who has the responsibility to perform the due diligence on prospective account holders. He/she would be following the guidelines set forth by the Trust Protocol Board for that jurisdiction.
The Cell Broadcast Broker is programmed to check that any proposed message has come from an authentic user, verified by password and other keys. It verifies that the message has come from an authentic terminal on a known secure network and via a secure VPN tunneling transmission protocol secured by an AES cipher key system approved by the DHS for Top Secret and below transmission.
Any further signaling to Cell Broadcast Centers and hence onward to BSCs is also secured by advanced VPN Tunneling.
The use of fully internal ‘clean’ VPN’ signaling with no external IP addressing and very secure ciphering makes the system as secure from hacking or spoofing as is possible. Exact details of these arrangements are reserved for members of a non-disclosure forum, to which federal personnel would have full access.
Reporting
Any account activity at all, whether successful or declined, is reported to the sender, his supervisor, and the gatekeeper. This is called an “Activity Report.” In this way any unsuccessful hack attacks or inappropriate proposals will be known. However, reports are known only to the closed user group affected and don’t become public knowledge. This is to prevent hackers getting any feedback on the progress of their attempts. Law enforcement agencies may then be sent copies of any reports that look suspicious, which will include any relevant information about what was being attempted.
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