WGBH-TV would like to invite you to see a demo of a pilot project WGBH is participating in to test the use of mobile DTV as the next-generation technology for alerting the public during natural and other emergencies.

The Mobile Emergency Alert System (M-EAS) is being developed with PBS, LG Electronics and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), to combine the immediacy and reach of broadcasting with personal mobile devices. We are one of just three states testing the service, and working to develop a template for a national system for all broadcasters, public and commercial.

Mobile EAS is designed to provide vital emergency information – whether for a national emergency, storm warning, or missing children — by delivering video, audio, maps, photos and text directly to any individual’s mobile device, phone, tablet or laptop using a mobile digital TV broadcast. M-EAS will work with existing alert systems as well as new text-based systems planned by mobile carriers. But it enhances these systems by providing rich-media content, such as video, instantly, and it avoids the congestion that cellular networks experience in emergencies.

WGBH-TV will demonstrate the pilot project on Tuesday, March 6 at 10:30am at the WGBH studios at One Guest Street in Brighton, MA.

Please share this invitation with your engineers or others at your station who may be interested in attending. RSVP to jeanne_hopkins@wgbh.org by March 2.

And a note – WGBH will be demonstrating the technology for city and state emergency folks on Monday, March 5, and your news departments will be invited to cover that.  Jon Abbott, WGBH President and CEO added, “we hope that our gathering with you on Tuesday, March 6 will allow us to have a deeper discussion from the broadcast perspective.”

President Obama has signed the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 into law.  The bill included language giving the FCC authority to hold incentive auctions of television spectrum, aimed at increasing the bandwidth for broadband service.  Read the article from TVBR.

Many experts have stated that they don’t expect any of the major television companies to hand over their licenses.  Will there be enough participation in an auction to make a difference in either the United States Treasury or broadband services?  We’ll have to wait and see.

With Congress passing the payroll tax extension last week (which included language for a television spectrum auction) the debate rages on about whether or wireless companies do indeed need more spectrum.  An argument against wireless companies claims is the upswing in over-the-air broadcast television.

This article on the Wall Street Journal’s website discusses the recent surge of antenna purchases.  Consumers by the thousands are cutting the cord from their cable or satellite company.  In exchange, they’re signing up for internet streaming services like Netflix or Hulu and supplementing that with over-the-air TV.

Avner Ronen, CEO of Boxee, another streaming service is quoted as saying, “many consumers don’t realize they can get these channels over the air in HD for free…”

As the battle for viewers rages on and the internet becomes a go-to place for television viewers, maybe it’s a good idea to remind your viewers that your station is there for free!

Now is your chance to sign up for the 2012-2013 MBA Student Broadcaster Scholarship program.  We encourage you to participate in this program to help those interested in pursuing a broadcasting career and earn EEO credit for your station in the process.

All participating stations must notify and donate to the MBA Student Broadcaster Scholarship Program by Friday, March 30, 2012. For more information about how you can participate in this program, call Jordan Walton at 800-471-1875.

To download an application to provide to interested students, click here.

To view a sample scholarship PSA script, click here.