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This report presents the results of an investigation of the technical feasibility of establishing a nationwide digital network using commercial AM radio broadcast stations that can support both voice and data transmission. The proposed network, called AMBER (AM broadcast emergency relay), is meant to support emergency communications for civilian and military users when other communication facilities are not available. The authors describe AMBER assets and users; consider key network issues and technical considerations; present preliminary cost estimates; describe the AMBER data link; and discuss a large-scale, nationwide computer simulation that has been developed for AMBER at RAND, including the propagation and noise models incorporated into this simulation and the methodology, host computer, and components of the AMBER simulation. The report concludes with a study of the connectivity of an illustrative network.

Civil defense --- Emergency communication systems --- Radio relay systems --- Radio stations --- United States --- Armed Forces --- Communication systems.