WASHINGTON, D.C. — A longtime broadcast alerting advocate who founded an international coalition of broadcasters, tech companies and trade associations using ATSC 3.0 digital broadcast technology for advanced public alerting and informing is exiting the group.
This puts Dave Arland in the role of Executive Director.
The change in leadership at the AWARN Alliance comes as John Larson has confirmed that he will be joining an unnamed alerting start up company.
AWARN Alliance is the champion of the Advanced Warning and Response Network, and handing over the reins of the AWARN Alliance at year-end caps a 40-year career in public policy, technology and management for Larson.
He will continue in his role as President of Convergence Services Inc., a strategic consulting firm focused on spectrum, resilience and next-generation broadcasting business models.
Larson’s new venture for which he is a co-founder, America’s Emergency Network LLC, uses satellite and the ATSC 3.0 core network to interconnect alerting authorities to ATSC 3.0 TV stations.
His successor, Arland, is well-known across the industry for his experience in lobbying, communications and strategy. He will continue to lead his consulting firm, Arland Communications, and will also continue in his position as Executive Director of the Indiana Broadcasters Association.
“The AWARN Alliance itself is John Lawson’s legacy, and all of us owe him an enormous debt of gratitude,” said AWARN Alliance Chairman John I. Taylor. “Similarly, we are very fortunate to have the well-respected and talented Dave Arland to lead us into the future.”
Arland said, “One of the most powerful connections of America’s broadcasters is between viewers and public safety officials, and AWARN will give local TV news teams an enhanced way of keeping people informed and safe. I look forward to working with various stakeholders to help build an advanced alerting system that will take full advantage of the capabilities of ATSC 3.0.”
