Cell phone service cannot be relied upon during a crisis or regional emergency.
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The author is the founder of Information Kiosk Specialists (theRADIOsource.com), a company that produces specialized components for traveler information kiosks for broadcasters and government agencies.
On April 8, the moon’s shadow will arc across North America from Mexico to Maine. About 3.7 million eclipse enthusiasts are expected to gather along the 120-mile-wide corridor to watch the “total eclipse” before leaving en masse.
But no one will separate this sea of cars. Deadlock is inevitable. First responders expect it will be difficult to reach those in need. Shortages of food, fuel and medical services are expected. Three Texas counties have issued local states of emergency in preparation for their populations to double during the event.
But worse could be traffic jams. The eclipse will occur wherever it occurs, regardless of cell tower capacity. Cellular service, especially in lower-capacity areas, can be overloaded, leaving travelers and residents alike unable to make calls. Cellular networks are the gateway to the internet, especially for those who drive. When it’s pushed to its limits, everything from providing wayfinding assistance to weather alerts to emergency notifications can be affected.
Broadcasters have a unique opportunity to bridge the gap. This fact is even recognized internationally, with the UNESCO agency recently identifying broadcasters as a “vital lifeline” and encouraging the world to “protect emergency radio frequencies for the dissemination of vital information to the public.”
Closer to home, this reality is further amplified by bipartisan support for the AM Every Car Act, which would require all cars sold in the United States to have an AM radio receiver prominently displayed on the dashboard. The bill’s sponsor, New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottenheimer, predicted that “this bill is about to become law.” Before the bill passes, Gottenheimer called on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to require automakers to Vehicles without AM receivers are labeled “Unsafe for Certain Emergency Situations.”
Local public safety officials clearly recognize the need for communications resiliency. Four counties near Indianapolis — Hendricks, Morgan, Shelby and Boone — have already taken action to create their own Traveler IInformation Broadcasting Station (TIS) Not just for the eclipse, but in anticipation of future wireless service outages.
Morgan County installed more efficient AM antennas to enhance signal coverage on Interstate 69, which runs parallel to the path of the eclipse through the county.Shelby and Hendricks counties will also stream Their TIS radio programming goes to the Internet: PCs and Internet-connected devices are less likely to be affected by service volume than mobile phones.
Wireless service outages are usually caused by natural disasters rather than solar eclipses. The recent extended power outage in Maui is a perfect example. But cyberattacks due to malicious activity or warfare can be much worse. It could eclipse not just wireless infrastructure, but the internet itself, with even more damaging potential. Its duration, scope and geography can be enormous in comparison.
Just a month ago, a congressional committee was reminded that bad actors in other countries were targeting our infrastructure with the intent of causing “real-world harm” to American citizens. Jen Easterly, director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), advised the committee that Americans need to prepare for unexpected cyberattacks.
Consider how your broadcaster, security agencies and yourself can help raise awareness and preparedness. Unlike natural phenomena, this approaching shadow cannot be predicted down to the second. But, as our leaders advise, this is to be expected.
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