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FEMA Alert System May Go Commercial

Mashable | by TVNewsCheck

Federal emergency managers are considering replacing their current custom-built system for notifying the public about emergencies with a commercial alternative, contracting documents show. The custom-built system, known as the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System-Open Platform for Emergency Networks, or IPAWS-OPEN, has not met a slate of minimum standards, such as operating with 99.9% uptime and allowing the president and other officials to alert the public about emergencies within 10 minutes, according to contracting documents posted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Friday.