FEMA, HD Radio to Demo Emergency Alerts Feature at NAB

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will integrate HD Radio’s emergency alerts feature into its Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) test and demonstration center in Maryland, said parent company Xperi Monday. For the first time, FEMA will be able to test the emergency alert system using commercial HD Radio receivers, said Ashruf El-Dinary, Xperi vice president-radio technology solutions. The HD Radio emergency alerts feature provides visual and auditory notifications to consumers, and the digital radio features allow broadcasters to expand public service information in communities, Xperi said. HD Radio receivers with the emergency alerts feature are available in select vehicles, and aftermarket and tabletop radios, in the U.S. and Canada. The emergency alert feature will be demonstrated at the NAB Show in the FEMA/IPAWS booth, Central Hall stand C3330.