AlertNow

When natural or event-driven emergency situations arise, much of the nationwide public alerting infrastructure relies on cell towers. During emergency situations, cellular infrastructure is negatively impacted from the overload of both public users and first responders. The result can often be congestion and possible failure. In rural areas, lack of cell coverage is an even bigger issue.

Television stations across the country are enabling datacasting to act as a game-changing and potentially life-saving technology in the delivery of critical, emergency information. Datacasting is live now on public television in both 1.0 and 3.0 standards.

As a nationwide point-to-multipoint distribution service, public television reaches millions of people simultaneously with a single alert transmission. Using datacast technology, those alerts can be targeted to very specific locations and receivers, ensuring individuals know they are in imminent danger, while avoiding “alert fatigue” brought on by too many alerts for faraway areas. Multiple languages and response information can be shared, even if a cell network is down or power is out.

The services offered by datacasting are wins for every side of the aisle, no matter what the political landscape is in your town, county, or state.

SpectraRep invites the following types of entities to join the AlertNow Network:

• Public television broadcasters across America, whether broadcasting in ATSC 1.0 or 3.0.
• Commercial low- and full-power ATSC 3.0 television stations: Participation by any station will maximize nationwide coverage, provide redundant communications capabilities, and ensure critical lifesaving messages are transmitted to the public within seconds.

Send an email to info@spectrarep.com or call 703.802.2975. We just need call letters and a name to put your name on the list.

Infrastructure is ready now. SpectraRep datacasting technology converts a portion of existing powerful TV broadcast signals into a one-way, one-to-many reliable, secure wireless network.

Datacasting is a mature communications technology that uses dedicated, licensed, digital television spectrum and capacity to deliver secure, encrypted, and targeted digital assets simultaneously across a large geographic area. Datacasting delivers the enhanced ability to provide public safety videos, files, and messages to government agencies, emergency managers and first responders.

Delivery of emergency alerts to consumers uses the same proven SpectraRep datacasting technology that has successfully served emergency managers and first responders for more than 20 years – AlertNow.

SpectraRep’s services are without peer in the industry. With 20+ years of experience in this field, we have built out the necessary infrastructure so you do not have to. With your station’s help, we are building a nationwide network to make these services available to citizens in your communities, while also supporting first responders and emergency management authorities to supplement their communications plans. The current SpectraRep installation map is below, as are case studies and receiver information.

➤➤ Datacasting Case Studies: July 4th Celebrations in Washington, DC | Marine Corp Marathon 2022

AlertNow serves geo-targeted all-hazards alerting to consumer and enterprise receivers:

Datacasting is proving to be a reliable solution is in the planning efforts to require contingency back-up plans for emergency communications: PACE (Primary, Alternate, Contingency and Emergency).

PACE planning requires identifying separate independent paths with as few common dependencies as possible.

Datacasting meets this requirement because it leverages existing broadcast television infrastructure completely independent of LTE and LMR systems. The technology provides a robust, secure wireless one-to-many path over licensed spectrum from central command to unlimited endpoints.

The transition to ATSC 3.0 is different from other technology transitions broadcasters have undertaken and requires planning and considerations. Forming relationships and understanding the needs that public safety and other local agencies have in your market will help you define and launch new mission- and revenue-based services.

SpectraRep is part of a new service alliance of ATSC 3.0 technology providers formed to help Public TV stations considering or planning their transition to ATSC 3.0 NextGen broadcasting.  We invite you to download our ATSC 3.0 transition guide that includes:

• 5 Things Public Television Stations Should Do Now
• 5 Things Public Television Stations Should Not Do
• 10 Features of ATSC 3.0 to Help Decide When and Why to Transition
• 5 Ways Public TV Stations Can Expand Relationships with Viewers
• Vision of the Companies Driving the Alliance

Download Now: Guide for Stations to Transition to ATSC 3.0

SpectraRep technology partners in datacasting projects include:

• DigiCAP Ltd.
• West Pond Technologies
• Sinclair Broadcast Group (WIAV) and their technology group ONE Media 3.0
• E/M Wave
• Winegard
• Osprey Video
• Clover Alert

Key Association partners include America’s Public Television Stations (APTS), ATSC Advanced Television Systems Committee, and the NAB National Association of Broadcasters.