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Approve Implementation of Regionwide Smog Alert Program through Pagers and Other Telecommunication Devices

SYNOPSIS:

Between February and September 1999, the AQMD tested a pilot program of the Air Quality Alert Pager Service. This program provided forecasts and real-time alerts through personal pagers of unhealthful air quality levels for each of the air monitoring and general forecast areas within the AQMD. Positive feedback from volunteers and participating pager companies in the program indicates a need for such service. Staff seeks approval to provide air quality alerts directly to pager and other wireless telecommunication service companies as a public service, so the general public can subscribe to this service through their local telecommunications company.

COMMITTEE:

Administrative, November 19, 1999, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Approve implementation of a Regionwide Smog Alert Program through pagers and other telecommunication devices.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

In September 1998, the Governing Board's Ad Hoc Inland Empire Committee recommended implementation of a real-time air quality information system using personal pagers. After a feasibility analysis performed by staff, the Board approved a pilot program for the Air Quality Alert Pager Service (sometimes referred to as the Smog Pager Alert Program). The pilot program ran from February through September of this year.

There was much public interest in the pilot program, from the numerous stories published by the media to the more than 120 people who called a telephone hotline to signup. For the test program, staff randomly selected 75 volunteers from throughout the four-county region, with a slightly greater proportion located in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Each volunteer was assigned a personal pager to receive real-time alerts of unhealthful air quality levels for each of the air monitoring and general forecast areas within the AQMD. As part of the pilot, and primarily to test and evaluate our computer-based pager system, daily forecasts of the next day’s air quality was also sent to pagers.

Pagers used during the pilot program were provided by two paging companies: PageNet and Metrocall. These companies agreed to loan to AQMD half the pagers for free and the remaining at reduced rates.

Pilot volunteers were sent a survey at the end of the pilot. Overall feedback on the program was very positive from volunteers and participating pager companies. Highlights from the survey include:

• Approximately 50% survey response rate;
• 90% indicated satisfied or better with overall service;
• 45% would pay for such a service;
• A number of respondents mentioned their preference for alerts covering their custom area and for more information in the alerts, e.g. PSI readings, meaning, recommended action to take. A few respondents also noted they found the hourly alerts annoying.

Staff has been in discussions with two pager companies who have indicated a desire to develop and provide an air quality alert service to the general public using pagers or other wireless devices--PageNet, a nationwide wireless communication service provider; and Outspoken Industries/Wireless Weather, Inc., a small business consultant. Staff is continuing to survey other companies as to their interest in providing air quality alerts to their customers.

Staff seeks Board approval to provide air quality alerts directly to pager and other wireless telecommunication service companies as a public service, so the general public can subscribe to this service through their local telecommunications company.

Negligible impact. A one-time effort of less than one staff day will be needed to automatically make the air quality information available to the wireless carriers.

1- Pager Alert Pilot Survey

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