Committed to Connecting the World International Telecommunication Union ITU-R Workshop on Emergency Broadcasting 21 November 2013 Geneva, Switzerland
Committed to Connecting the World
International Telecommunication Union
ITU-R Workshop on Emergency Broadcasting
21 November 2013
Geneva, Switzerland
Committed to Connecting the World
ITU-R Report on the Importance of Terrestrial Broadcasting in Providing Emergency Information to the Public– Lynn Claudy and Gary Stanley
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Co-Rapporteurs
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Lynn Claudy
Senior Vice President, Technology
National Association of Broadcasters
Washington D.C., USA
Gary Stanley
Senior Frequency Manager
Babcock International Group
London, UK
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ITU-R Report on the Importance of Terrestrial Broadcasting in Providing Emergency Information to the Public
4 Photo: FEMA/
Walt Jennings
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Basics of ITU-R Report
Gary Stanley and Lynn Claudy established as Co-Rapporteurs for the report at ITU-R WP6A meeting in April 2013
Call for contributions widely distributed
Draft report submitted in late Oct. for WP6A meeting this week
11 major sections, 96 pages 5
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Section 1-- Background During disasters, information is first
priority
Broadcasting is ideal “first informer”
No network congestion
High quality, in-depth information
Broadcast receivers are inexpensive, battery operable, widely deployed, easy to distribute
Highly reliable network
Most broadcasts are free to public 6
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The Uniqueness of Broadcasting For the Broadcaster:
One-To-Many
REACH AND SCALE
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The Uniqueness of Broadcasting For the Broadcaster:
One-To-Many
For the Household:
Many-To-One
REACH AND SCALE SURVIVABILITY
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Background Cont’d
Central Conclusion of Report
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Section 2-- Terrestrial Radio and Television Reporting
Reliable, accurate and timely information and warnings before the disaster happens
Appropriate information and advice as the disaster is happening
Timely, relevant and practical information after the disaster occurs
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Section 3-- Operational methods used to assure
continued broadcast service
Achieved through planning, for example;
Redundant facilities
Back-up power
Emergency protocols
Check lists 11
The mission of broadcasting is to be
available at all times
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Operational Methods Cont’d
Example: U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Media Security and Reliability Council (MSRC) Best Practices
Example: BBC Media Action
“Radio station in a suitcase”
Broadcast facility can be rapidly transported and set up during crisis
Supply of battery-operated/wind-up radios for emergency distribution
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Section 4-- Use of Existing Broadcasting Infrastructure
In-house procedures quickly adapted to provide life and safety information
Existing broadcast services used to transmit “Lifeline” services
Support of local broadcasters to enable them to be back on-air
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Example: Getting back on the air after a disaster
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First Response
Indonesia responds to
earthquake in Aceh
province to enable
local broadcaster to
return to full power
operation
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Section 5-- New broadcasting techniques for
use in emergency communications
In the U.S. broadcasters participate the government-organized Emergency Alert System (EAS)
Emergency alerting technology can be extended for HD Radio and Mobile DTV
Digital Radio Mondiale has developed an Emergency Warning Functionality
BBC Media Action uses innovative methods to reach affected communities
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Many broadcast systems include
emergency warning capability
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Example: Mobile EAS and Rich Media
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Initial message warning
Guide linked from message
Weather Radar Map
HTML information
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Example: Digital Radio Mondiale Emergency
Warning Functionality (EWF)
Part of DRM system specification
Alternative Frequency Signalling (AFS)
Points receiver to emergency broadcast
Audio
Text messages
Journaline advanced text
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Section 6-- Collaboration between broadcast
organisations
Sharing of broadcast infrastructure and resources
The Communicating with Disaster Affected Communities (CDAC) Network
International Association of Broadcasting
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Section 7-- Public service efforts by broadcasters
associated with emergency and disaster situations
Internews
First Response Radio
BBC Media Action
NGOs– Free Press Unlimited, IREX, Equal Access, Search for Common Ground, Institute of War and Peace Reporting
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Examples of Public Service by U.S. Broadcasters
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Example: Internews Case Study in Haiti
Communication is Aid
Saves lives
Improves humanitarian effectiveness
Provides vital psychological support
Manages community expectations
Gives affected populations a voice and fulfills people’s right to know
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Section 8-- The Role of International Broadcasting
Why is international broadcasting important for disaster relief?
Shortwave radio – disaster resistant
Still popular in many countries
DRM – Early Warning Functionality
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Example
The International Radio for Disaster Relief (IRDR) project
Aims to identify frequency channels in each shortwave band
Reserved by global coordination community for disaster mitigation
Clear frequencies at short notice
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Section 10-- Case studies
Many examples of efforts by radio and television broadcasting during public disasters and emergencies
Contains 8 annexes describing specific case studies from around the world
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Case Studies of U.S. Broadcasters Covering Disasters
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Case study: First Response Radio
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First Response
India puts “radio
station in a
suitcase” on-air
within 72 hours of
flash floods and
landslides in
Uttarakhand
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Section 11 Conclusions
Terrestrial broadcasting is critically important for information dissemination to the public in times of emergencies
High service reliability
Professional compilation of important information
Receivers are readily available, inexpensive and pervasive in society
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Conclusions Cont’d
In times of crisis and disaster, radio and television broadcasting is unparalleled in its ability to effectively reach affected populations with relevant
information-rich media content
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Thank you!