PBS NORTH CAROLINA AND NC DEPT. OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AWARDED GRANT TO CONTINUE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS ENHANCEMENTS

Posted on June 7, 2021 in ATSC News

Device Solutions Inc. Leads PBS NC and NCDIT in Grant from the Department of Homeland Security

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, 6/3/2021 — PBS North Carolina, jointly with the North Carolina Department of Informational Technology (NCDIT)’s First Responder Emerging Technologies (FirstTech) program and North Carolina-based Device Solutions Inc., announces the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant awarded by the Department of Homeland Security to continue the development of a new emergency digital paging system over public television.

The emergency digital paging system utilizes digital ATSC 3.0 TV technology to deliver an affordable paging structure to improve situational awareness and response time for first responders across the state of North Carolina. The system will help first responders with increased coverage area and penetration, reduce delay and provide a secure and reliable means for transmitting emergency alerts.

After successfully demonstrating the feasibility of the system during Phase 1 of the project, Device Solutions, with support from PBS North Carolina and NCDIT, was selected to participate in the National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corp program to further develop detailed business model requirements in support of being awarded a follow-on Phase II contract.  Over the course of 7 weeks in February and March 2021, Device Solutions interviewed over 100 first responders and emergency communications agencies across the country to understand the needs of first responders and develop an initial design.

“Device Solutions is grateful to have been selected for a Phase II SBIR award for Emergency Digital Paging Over Public Television (eDPPT) and we are thrilled to be working with PBS North Carolina and the North Carolina Department of Information Technology,” says Bob Witter, President of Device Solutions, Inc. “The cooperation and insights we have received from these organizations was a key driver in our Phase I success. We look forward to the continued relationship and successful engineering and testing of a prototype paging system that will improve the situational awareness and safety of our emergency responders.”

Chief Technology Officer at PBS North Carolina, Fred Engel, notes, “This award allows us to continue to explore the many other capabilities of this technology that will serve the public, starting with emergency communications. PBS North Carolina is honored to work with Device Solutions and NCDIT to further our commitment to reliable emergency response and safety for all North Carolinians.”

“It’s very exciting to see how this research will advance the time it takes for dispatch information to reach first responders in the field,” said Red Grasso, North Carolina’s FirstTech program director. “This technology brings a perfect synergy between public television and public safety to benefit our society with a new way to get data and information to first responders.”

“Technology is ingrained in our society, and we have to learn to adapt to the speed in which it changes how we function in our day-to-day lives,” said NCDIT Secretary and State CIO Jim Weaver. “FirstTech’s partnership with PBS NC is a great example of how we can take advantage of changing technologies to serve our communities in a positive way.”

About Device Solutions Inc.

Device Solutions Inc. is an engineering firm located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina and provides feasibility studies, embedded hardware and software design and development, industry and carrier certifications and approvals, deployment services, and manufacturing support. Device Solutions is a testing and certification center for FCC, UL, Bluetooth, and cellular carriers and is experienced in the building of electronic devices for the vertical marketplace including medical, asset tracking, remote monitoring and control, consumer electronics, home and office automation, and utilities. Visit device-solutions.com for more information.

About PBS North Carolina

As North Carolina’s statewide PBS network serving the country’s third-largest public media market, PBS NC educates, informs, entertains and inspires its statewide audience on-air, online and in-person. Through its unique partnership of public investment and private support, the statewide network includes in-person engagement, digital-first social and online content delivery, and four over-the-air channels—PBS NC, the North Carolina Channel, Rootle 24/7 PBS Kids and the Explorer Channel. Its transformational events and content spark curiosity and wonder for all North Carolinians. Additionally, PBS NC serves as the backbone for North Carolina’s state’s emergency services. Visit pbsnc.org and join the conversation at facebook.com/MyPBSNC and @MyPBSNC on Instagram and Twitter.

About NC Department of Information Technology

The North Carolina Department of Information Technology is the leading provider of IT services to state agencies, local governments and educational institutions across the state. The agency is led by its secretary and state chief information officer, provides oversight of state agency IT projects and manages IT procurement, cybersecurity, business relationship strategies and statewide architecture.

– PBS NC –

Media Contacts:

Kathleen Kramer, PBS North Carolina Marketing & Communications
kkramer@pbsnc.org

Beth Gargan, Deputy Communications Director, NCDIT
beth.gargan@nc.gov

Posted in ATSC News