[BC] EAS

[Bill Croghan]

I mostly agree Larry, But....  That solution does not answer what many on
these lists are asking for, which is a way to jam the information down
everyone's throat at all hours, in all locations.  That may not be possible,
but the system can be improved.
	We've pushed NWS receivers, helped most of the major casinos and
resorts here in town get EAS or NWS alert receivers in their security rooms
(Yes Virginia, they do care) and pushed them on Schools, churches and police
stations.  The Nevada Broadcasters association has spent a fortune on
supporting and promoting the system.  It's executive director, Bob Fischer
is the chairman of the state Amber Alert committee.
	I haven't given up.  One person in the situation you had in
Mississippi can do little, but there are lots of us that are working on it
here and hopefully elsewhere.
	Federal mandates of that type must be federally funded and then
ENFORCED.
  
Bill
Bill Croghan CPBE WB?KSW
Chief Engineer, 
KOMP/KXPT/KENO/KBAD
Lotus Broadcasting
Las Vegas, NV
Email to loteng (at) lvradio.com
Phone 702-315-3030
Fax      702-876-6685

>-----Original Message-----
>From: broadcast-bounces at radiolists.net [mailto:broadcast-
>bounces at radiolists.net] On Behalf Of Larry Fuss
>Sent: Friday, October 14, 2005 7:16 AM
>To: 'Broadcast Radio Mailing List'
>Subject: RE: [BC] EAS
>
>> The feds, for a cost of less than 800 feet of the "Big Dig", could
>supply every broadcast studio, and every city/county/state EOC/dispatch
>center with the Comlabs system.
>
>I'm probably the biggest critic of EAS there is.  I worked hard to make
>it work at my stations in Mississippi, but finally gave up.  I've given
>up in American Samoa too, but that's another story - ask me about it
>sometime.  One person cannot make a differrence when surrounded by a
>sea of idiots.  I know that in some places, people like Clay make it
>work - but in most places, it is a joke.
>
>That being said, I do think we need some form of warning system.  But if
>it to be mandated, then the feds should pay for it.  Billions of dollars
>of taxpayer money are thrown down rat-holes each year (the $200-million
>bridge to a little town of 50 people in Alaska is but one example; and
>we're gonna spend something like $250-BILLION to rebuild New Orleans).
>
>The feds should hire brioadcast engineers, not bureaucrats, to design
>a new system, and then, as Tom B. said, supply every broadcast station and
>every emergency ops center with the new equipment.  The cost would be
>minimal compared to some of the worthless things the government spends
>money on.
>>>>>>snip<<<<<<<<