MINNEAPOLIS – Clear Channel Outdoor and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) today announced a partnership in which the FBI will provide commuters with information via Clear Channel Outdoor’s digital billboard network in the Twin Cities. This provides a new way for the FBI to highlight wanted suspects and other people of interest, ask the public for assistance in locating these people, and share urgent information on crises and homeland security.
“This partnership provides the FBI with an opportunity to rapidly communicate with the public here in Minnesota,” said Ralph Boelter, special agent in charge of the Minneapolis FBI office. “Digital billboard technology enables the FBI to work more effectively and engage the average citizen in helping keep our state and country safe.”
The digital billboard network was introduced to Minnesota just over a year ago, and has since been used to communicate AMBER alerts, weather and traffic situations, and other urgent messages to the public in addition to its advertising purposes. Clear Channel Outdoor’s partnership with the FBI further builds on the company’s work with the Minnesota departments of public safety and transportation.
The partnership is part of Clear Channel Outdoor’s national initiative following the successful apprehension of three criminals in Philadelphia as a direct result of information displayed on Clear Channel Outdoor’s digital billboard network in that market. In addition to “wanted” bulletins, the FBI will be able to display high-security messages and high priority “hot pursuit” messages to assist in apprehending felony suspects relevant to Minnesota.
“Clear Channel Outdoor is proud to provide our digital technology for such a valuable public service,” said Tom McCarver, vice president of real estate and public affairs for Clear Channel Outdoor. “Our partnership with the FBI allows for a very powerful use of our network, and builds on our work with law enforcement agencies in Minnesota and nationwide.”
About Clear Channel Outdoor
Clear Channel Outdoor and its Twin Cities predecessor companies Naegele Outdoor, Universal Outdoor, and Eller Media Company have had a strong Minnesota presence for more than 85 years. Clear Channel Outdoor employs approximately 55 people in Minnesota and has an inventory of more than 1,700 outdoor advertising displays (including almost 600 large format bulletins). Some of Clear Channel Outdoor’s clients include Target, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Builders Association of the Twin Cities, Qwest, General Motors, and local media outlets. In addition, 5% of its digital billboard inventory is donated annually to civic organizations and the cities in which Clear Channel Outdoor is located for community service messages.
The company operates 16 digital billboards in the Twin Cities metropolitan area under self-imposed industry guidelines that are stricter than Minnesota public safety mandates.
Clear Channel Outdoor (NYSE:CCO) is the world’s largest outdoor advertising company with over 973,000 displays in more than 60 countries across 6 continents. In the United States, the company operates over 167,000 advertising displays and has a presence in 49 of the top 50 Designated Market Areas. It also operates airport, rail, taxi and mall advertising businesses worldwide. Its Spectacolor (U.S.) and DEFI (international) divisions are the global market leaders in spectacular sign displays, including in New York’s Times Square. Clear Channel Adshel is the company's international street furniture division, which operates over 3,500 municipal advertising contracts worldwide. More information may be found by visiting www.clearchanneloutdoor.com.
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Certain statements in this release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such f orward-looking statements .