According to the August 20, 2013 edition of the Tampa
Tribune (see: http://tbo.com/list/military-news/socom-seeks-system-to-control-am-fm-transmissions-in-emergency-20130820/)
“In future natural disasters or battlefield operations, U.S. Special Operations
Command would like to be able to take over local AM and FM radio transmissions
to broadcast its own message.”
In a related item: The Headquarters, United States Special
Operations Command (HQ USSOCOM) is seeking sources to provide a radio broadcast
system capable of searching for and acquiring every AM and FM radio station in
a specific area and then broadcasting a message(s) in the target area on all
acquired AM and FM radio station frequencies.”.
Take a look at https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=188d037a0e522f1c6dc7d2dbba5f076e&tab=core&_cview=0,
which is the solicitation for such a system.
There are two ways to look at this: 1. Domestic Disaster
Communications and 2. Overseas use.
Domestic Disaster Support
No one can doubt that natural disasters such as Katrina and Sandy require drastic measures. These disasters along with the 1989 earthquake in San Francisco show that traditional communication means are not effective during and shortly after many disasters.
There is a pressing need to get information to people affected
by disasters quickly and reliably. MISO resources have proven effective in
limited situations such as loud speakers after Hurricane Andrew in Florida See
(MISO resources have proven effective in limited situations such as loud
speakers after Hurricane Andrew in Florida. See: http://www.psywarrior.com/PSYOPHurricaneAndrew.html
Prudent disaster planning – natural and manmade – requires
considering wider scenarios than have taken place in the past. Consider that
passenger airplanes had not been used as weapons prior to 9/11.
SOCOM has been working with the US Department of Homeland
Security to bolster domestic capabilities with military capabilities in the
event of disasters.
Does it make logical sense for SOCOM to have the ability
(even with proper legal precedent and authorization) to be able to override the
information and messages being broadcasted on domestic commercial AM and FM
radio?
For radio broadcasting to be effective there needs to be
functioning transmission and receiving capabilities. On the receiver side,
battery, hand powered and automotive powered radios will likely be functional
after a disaster. Does it follow that the broadcasting stations will be functioning
and that their antennas will still be in good enough shape to transmit? Not
necessarily so.
However, assuming that they are, does it make sense to have
a military resource available that can transmit the government’s messages over
the commercial airwaves in the face of a disaster? My response would be
probably yes. Local first responders whether government or NGO generally have
only limited resources and capabilities. These capabilities can be quickly
overwhelmed as we have seen in past disasters - - consequently a military
resource would be helpful.
In the larger context, isn’t it more likely that the mobile
phone will be most people’s information source? Smart phones have become
indispensable for the normal activities of daily living – wouldn’t they be even
more critical in a disaster?
Perhaps mobile phone ‘takeover’ technology would be in the
SOCOM procurement pipeline down the road.
2.
Overseas Use
The ability to quickly take over an enemy’s means of
communicating with their population would give the attacker a very significant
advantage and that’s all I’ll say on the matter at this time.
SOCOM is the proponent for influence operations (except PAO
of course) and has to plan for the future even in the face of potential
political issues such as the fallout from NSA surveillance, Snowdon, Manning,
etc.
Overall, the ability to quickly convey information over commercial
airwaves would seem to be a logical step in that direction. Further discussion perhaps at another time.
Photo source: www.SOCOM.mil
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