Last updated April 12, 2019
The National Association of Broadcasters in the United States could not resist taking a potshot at used cell phones following an earthquake in Washington DC yesterday that left many cell phone networks jammed.
“Cell phone down post DC quake, free and local broadcasters working. Really?” tweeted the spokesman for the National Association of Broadcasters, Dennis Wharton. Wharton later added to the comment, noting that “Broadcasters as a lifeline: DC’s Emergency Mgt Assn advises residents: ‘Stay tuned to radio and TV news updates’.”
Wharton was not the only one from the National Association of Broadcasters to take advantage of the situation, with Zamir Ahmed also tweeting that “Wireless networks overwhelmed after VA quake but radio and TV broadcasters still on the air providing lifeline info.”
Broadcasters have been arguing with policymakers over the importance of television amidst efforts to make some of them give up their spectrum in order to provide for the increasing demand for wireless broadband, with the National Association of Broadcasters insisting that the “one to many” model of television news and entertainment is a considerably more efficient way of using available bandwidth than the “one to one” model which is a hallmark of the wireless phone industry.
Wireless broadcasters were insisting that the problems were caused by overuse rather than any damage done to their systems by the quake, though the end result remained the same.