Local Broadcast TV a Super Signal in the Super Storm - Don Seaman-TVB

During the beginning of this month it became eminently clear to millions of Americans in the Northeast that at least one part of the future can39t come soon enoughHurricane Sandy was the latest example of how isolating a blackout can be amp8211 not just a power blackout but an information one as well As power was cut to so many people with it went the ability to get news that they needed about their situation from their most trusted source amp8211 their local broadcast television stations Without television people were forced to look to alternate news resources as a backup plan However many found that their most immediate and everpresent media connections smartphones and tablets had failed them as well The FCC estimated that 25 of cell phone towers within the 10 impacted states had been compromised during the hurricane leaving signal strength and availability unreliable for those who needed it mostThe ultimate answer lies right at our technological fingertips It39s called Mobile Digital Television and it39s currently being implemented in many markets across the country There are 120 stations in 32 markets providing MDTV signals and providers such as Mobile PCS are beginning to offer devices capable of picking up the signals As time goes on more and more devices will be added more stations and more marketsBut what won39t be necessary are more cell towers These signals are picked up by these devices directly from the broadcast signal So there39s no need to worry about losing the cell signal like a dropped call And Mobile DTV has no impact upon your data plan In essence your mobile device will be transformed into a television setLet39s repeat that Stare at it for eight seconds so you remember it Mobile DTV doesn39t use mobile cellular service It uses overtheair TV signals only formatted specifically for mobile devices amp8211 smartphones tablets and laptopsWhat39s more during events such as Hurricane Sandy broadcasters weather the storm well They never stopped broadcasting even when absorbing a direct hit by a major hurricane So viewers equipped with Mobile DTV devices won39t lose their TV news lifelineThat underscores the critical need for Mobile DTV as these events are becoming more commonplace a result of major longterm weather effects such as El Niamp241o La Niamp241a and perhaps that global warming problem and our growing expectation that media connectivity is indeed a necessity to survive The service that stations bring to their community by doing their part to provide information is essentialFEMA39s Administrator Craig Fugate concurs saying that quotin times of emergency there is no more reliable source of information than that coming from local broadcastersquotVia Mobile DTV these devices will also pick up the Mobile Emergency Alert System amp8211 a mobile application of the quotEmergency Broadcasting Systemquot This will kick in during times of local need to provide updates such as evacuation routes and other practical information over the TV airwavesThere are many lessons that can be taken from that amp8211 not the least of them in spectrum regulation In order to serve their communities properly broadcasters need support from the federal government in guarding their signal bandwidth Without these protections the community will suffer during times of crisis when information is at a premium It39s not hyperbole to suggest that lives would be threatened without the ability to reach people with breaking news when catastrophe hitsMobile DTV39s importance might have been demonstrated to the government in another way this week as well and this time it39s in its own selfinterest People without access to their televisions would have a hard time following the coverage of the election returns So even in terms of giving viewers onthego access to live results of the democratic process Mobile DTV creates a bridge for its audience of citizens to witness their constitutional rights in actionWith or without dire circumstances it39s clear that Mobile DTV is more necessary than ever While the most commonplace use of Mobile DTV will be for entertainment and everyday news sports and weather it39s during the darkest hours that Mobile DTV will really shineBroadcasters quite literally weathered the storm to make sure they served their communities Perhaps Mobile DTV is just the latest tool that will further unite these United StatesDon Seaman joined the TVB in January 2012 as Manager of Marketing Communications where he is responsible for promoting and raising awareness of the TVB and of Local Broadcast Televisionamp8217s value propositions within the traditional and digital media industries Don can be reached at dontvborgRead all Don39s MediaBizBloggers commentaries at Local MattersCheck us out on Facebook at MediaBizBloggerscomFollow our Twitter updates MediaBizBloggerThe opinions and points of view expressed in this commentary are exclusively the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaBizBloggerscom management or associated bloggers MediaBizBloggers is an open thought leadership platform and readers may share their comments and opinions in response to all commentaries

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