Innovation and Leadership: The BEACON Story
BEACON represents an unprecedented collaboration between academic innovation, emergency management expertise, and technological advancement, uniting three pioneering organizations in their mission to save lives through revolutionary emergency communication.
University of Florida: Academic Innovation Meets Public Safety
Under Randy Wright's visionary leadership, the University of Florida's College of Journalism and Communications laid the groundwork for BEACON through the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network (FPREN). Wright's creation of FPREN in 2013 demonstrated how broadcast media could serve as a lifeline during emergencies, earning multiple prestigious awards including the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's "Community Lifeline" award. His innovative approach to emergency communications through UF's commercial and public media enterprise proved that reliable, accessible emergency information could reach communities when they need it most. This pioneering work established the foundation for what would become BEACON.
Florida Division of Emergency Management: Transforming Emergency Communication
FDEM Director Kevin Guthrie recognized the potential to revolutionize how emergency managers communicate with their communities. Under his leadership, FDEM partnered with UF and Futuri to develop BEACON into a comprehensive emergency communication system that could serve as a model for the nation. Guthrie's expertise in emergency management helped ensure BEACON would meet the real-world needs of emergency managers while leveraging the most resilient communication infrastructure available – broadcast media.
Futuri: Building the Technology of Tomorrow
As a 100% American-owned technology company, Futuri brought its extensive expertise in artificial intelligence and broadcast technology to develop BEACON's patented innovations. With more than 150 skilled engineers and media specialists, Futuri transformed the collaborative vision into reality, creating a sophisticated AI-powered system capable of delivering emergency information in multiple languages across various platforms. Their success in developing BEACON builds upon their track record of creating cutting-edge SaaS solutions for media companies across 20 countries.
This extraordinary partnership demonstrates how academic innovation, government leadership, and private sector technology can combine to create transformative solutions for public safety. From its successful launch in Florida to its expanding implementation nationwide, BEACON stands as a testament to the power of collaborative leadership in protecting communities during times of crisis.
Together, these organizations continue to push the boundaries of what's possible in emergency communication, working tirelessly to ensure BEACON reaches communities across America through the most stable and reliable medium – broadcast media. Their shared commitment to saving lives through innovative technology sets a new standard for emergency management and public safety communication.