J6.4 The next Step in Digital Broadcast Technology-a Superior Way to Get Warnings out

Friday, 12 June 2015: 4:15 PM
304 (Raleigh Convention Center)
Greg Fishel, WRAL-TV, Raleigh, NC; and J. Lawson

We in the broadcast industry obviously take a deep interest in getting emergency information out to the public as quickly as possible. Much of this is currently done via cellular technology. However, the next generation of digital broadcast technology is just around the corner, and offers a superior alternative to cellular, by allowing emergency information to piggy back the broadcast signal. There are no congestion issues, and TV transmission towers are a lot more robust than cell towers during extreme weather. In recent years, the FCC has been taking bandwidth away from local broadcasters in favor of wireless communication companies. I'll look at this new technology, and explore the very real possibility that it offers us the best hope of getting the word out, and getting it out reliably.
- Indicates paper has been withdrawn from meeting
- Indicates an Award Winner