SOMEONE YOU SHOULD KNOW: Dr. Edward Czarnecki Monroe Electronics

Posted on April 1, 2018 in ATSC News

Dr. Ed Czarnecki leads strategy and government affairs for ATSC member Monroe Electronics, which develops innovative broadcast solutions for emergency communications. For the last 15 years, Czarnecki has been deeply involved in ATSC-related public warning initiatives including FEMA’s Digital Emergency Alert pilot project that leveraged ATSC 1.0 data broadcast capabilities and, more recently, Ohio’s deployment of an ATSC 1.0 EAS data broadcast network.

“With Monroe’s focus in the emergency information area, and our concentration of providing solutions to video service providers, it made sense to get involved with ATSC 3.0. The new standard provides the opportunity for TV broadcasters to re-think how they present emergency information to their audiences and how they can use this powerful new tool to present all manner of urgent information, tailored to geography, user preferences, and even receiving platform,” Czarnecki says.

He’s actively involved with ATSC as a member of the TG3 technology group and the S/33 and S/36 specialist groups and the Advanced Emergency Alert Implementation Team, as well as several CTA R4 working groups on ATSC 3.0 consumer receivers, emergency alerting and accessibility. He’s also active in the AWARN (Advance Warning and Response Network) Alliance and heavily involved with ATSC 3.0-related discussions as a member of the advisory groups affiliated with both the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

A Career Built on Emergency Solutions

Czarnecki earned a Ph.D. from Georgetown University and a Master’s Degree and Certificate in International Law from St. John’s University. His 25-year career spans across the broadcast, cable, mobile and satellite industries.

In his current role at Monroe, he stands at the intersection of industry needs, government policy and technology development. A recognized expert on emerging public warning technologies, standards and regulations, Czarnecki works closely with local, state and federal entities on the deployment of advanced emergency communications solutions, and has been closely involved with next generation technology, cybersecurity, multilingual and accessible alerting issues.

“This is a rare opportunity to contribute to a paradigm shift in an entire industry,” he said of his work on ATSC 3.0. “Seeing the adoption of AEA (Advanced Emergency Alerting) message specification that we contributed within the ATSC A/331 suite of standards was a thrilling achievement,” says Czarnecki.

“Even more thrilling,” he adds, “will be the deployment of the actual advanced emergency messaging solutions and creation of new emergency communications capabilities at television stations across the country over the next few years.”

No Slowing Down

Czarnecki lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and four daughters who are all involved in competitive ice skating. In his free time, Czarnecki is avid bicycle rider (road and cyclo-cross) and volunteers both in after-school activities and with sports. Matching his super-busy worklife, “I am blessed with a super-active family,” he says.

Posted in ATSC News