To help in the conduct of distance learning, the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD), will operate an amateur TV station that can be deployed in remote areas.
DOST said that this is in response to President Duterte’s to utilize unused TV frequencies for distance learning.
One of the activities is setting up a Community LTE Network in selected rural areas in the Philippines to be implemented by DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI).
DOST said that utilization of the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) TV spectrum in pilot areas in the Philippines will be conducted and evaluated.
Another activity is the development and proliferation of digital datacasting capability both through Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting (ISDB) such as terrestrial (ISDB-T) and space (ISDB-S) segments to be implemented by DOST-ASTI and the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA).
DOST said that digital datacasting is an emerging technology in the Philippines that offers a semblance of interaction between student and teacher. Its broadcast information has high definition (HD) quality.
Terrestrial towers of TV stations and satellite direct TV will be utilized with learning and training materials from DOST-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) and Science and Technology Information Institute (STII) and the Department of Education (DepED) Learning management System (LMS) uploaded as content.
Last is the Content Development and Deployment through DOST-SEI and DOST-STII. Support for the updating and deployment of the DOST-SEI teaching and learning materials as an interactive approach to e-learning and blended learning will be undertaken with PCOO and PTV-4 as partners on improving digital TV to support education.