EL PASO, TEXAS—U.S. Customs and Border Protection today announced the installation of a pilot AM radio broadcast system designed to better inform the border crossing public. CBP has installed AM radio frequency transmitters at two ports of entry on the southwest border, Ysleta in El Paso, Texas, and Lincoln-Juarez in Laredo, Texas, in order to communicate important border crossing information to travelers.
The El Paso port of entry Ysleta international crossing transmitter is scheduled to be turned on and begin broadcasting at noon today. The 10-watt signal can be found on AM 530 and has a range of several miles in any direction from the Ysleta crossing.
"In addition to recent physical and technological upgrades at our ports of entry, CBP is always exploring options to better communicate with travelers," said Ana B. Hinojosa, CBP El Paso Director of Field Operations. "With this has come the idea of CBP border radio, an AM radio station CBP will use to broadcast pertinent bilingual travel information on a 24/7 basis and emergency information when necessary."
Information broadcasts will include reminders of document requirements and how to use high-tech travel cards; information about CBP's Trusted Traveler Programs; basic border crossing rules and regulations; and port of entry emergency travel information and/or updates.
CBP has transformed the way it does business at land ports of entry over the last few years and one of the key elements is the concept of active lane management. This concept allows infrastructure enhancements such as improved license plate readers and radio frequency identification (RFID) technology coupled with new Ready Lanes, light emitting diode (LED) signage and Trusted Traveler lanes (NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST) to facilitate the entry process for travelers.
To further this concept CBP believes an informed and educated traveler is an efficient traveler.
CBP anticipates that the model of the AM transmitter, used by many highway and traffic authorities, will prove to be an effective tool for reaching the traveling public.
During the pilot phase, CBP will monitor the effectiveness of this new tool in a few locations on the northern and southern borders. CBP will keep the public informed about the analysis of the AM radio system, and whether further system installations and messaging will be forthcoming.