WRAL.com: Raleigh, Durham, Fayetteville

M-EAS: THE FUTURE OF CRISIS COMMUNICATION IS HERE 

WHAT IS M-EAS?

The Mobile Emergency Alert System (M-EAS) puts free, interactive, on-demand emergency information in the hands of the people using mobile devices, including video, pictures, and no character limit text. This innovative new technology uses the data stream of the over-the-air broadcast television signal, requiring no cell towers, no cell phone data plan and no Internet access. In an emergency, WRAL-TV could push an interactive alert to your phone, tablet, and mobile DTV. No other system has the capacity to deliver rich media emergency messages to so many people simultaneously. This is the future technology that will help save lives in the future.

“Public service is a local broadcaster’s highest duty. The future of local television is mobile. It’s important that our citizens and our government know this technology is viable for free using the mobile broadcast spectrum. All it needs is government adoption and the mass production of receivers to deliver it. This technology will save lives in a crisis.” -- Steven D. Hammel, WRAL-TV Vice President and General Manager

FIRST IN THE NATION

On Sept. 13, 2012, WRAL-TV will become the first commercial television station in the U.S. to demonstrate the future, life-saving Mobile Emergency Alert System (M-EAS). 

WRAL IS THE INNOVATION STATION

With this live demonstration of M-EAS, WRAL-TV expands its legacy as an innovator in digital technology.

In 1996, the station was the first in the nation to broadcast an HDTV signal.

In 2000, it broadcast the first all-HD newscast in the world.

When the station first publicly showed live digital television on Raleigh city buses in 2009, it made mobile DTV history.

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING

"WRAL-TV is to be congratulated for its leadership in demonstrating the life-saving capabilities of the Mobile Emergency Alert System. As this new system of emergency broadcast technology takes hold in the U.S., citizens will be able to receive video, maps and text alerts on their favorite mobile device. It is a quantum leap forward in emergency alerting, and WRAL is at the forefront of an exciting public service." -- Anne Schelle, executive director of the OMVC (Open Mobile Video Coalition) and CEO of Acta Wireless Slideshow     M-EAS preview event in Raleigh

“With the demonstration of the Mobile Emergency Alert System (M-EAS), WRAL-TV continues its tradition of using new digital television technologies for important service to its community.”  -- Mark Richer, president of the Advanced Television Systems Committee, Inc. (ATSC).

"In disaster events we know quick, accurate information is key to saving and protecting lives. I applaud WRAL for their efforts to use this emerging technology to place life saving information literally in our hands. It is very clear to me that it should be developed and implemented as soon as possible.” --Barry Porter, regional executive director for the American Red Cross.

WRAL and Capitol Broadcasting have done it again! As an early proponent of Mobile EAS, I mark their standing up the first commercial station to broadcast Mobile EAS messages as a truly historic milestone. Their leadership will accelerate deployment of a system that will undoubtedly save many lives in the years ahead. Congratulations to Jimmy Goodmon, Sam Matheny, their colleagues, and the citizens of North Carolina on their international leadership in deploying the next generation of public alert and warning. -- 
John M. Lawson, executive director, Mobile500 Alliance
 

THANKS TO OUR TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS