[BC] When COL matters
Barry Mishkind
barry
Thu Aug 31 11:13:44 CDT 2006
Scott ... I tell you EXACTLY when a COL (and/or ID) matters. (...
aside from when the EB can cite and fine you.)
First, while it is quite true it is rare for a station to "jump
channel" these days ... but as has been noted here - and on other
lists - daytime facilities are often left on at night. This is one
way to identify the station.
More importantly - your personal safety: suppose you are driving
across another state (I use another state for a reason ... please
read on) and your Rush Limbaugh rant is interrupted by a tornado
alert in Wacko County.
Now, it may be that, for some places, you the name/location of the
COL would not help you, but it is much more likely that you will have
a clue to that than you would know where Wacko County was.
Are you driving directly into the tornado? Are you driving parallel,
but the tornado is starting to turn at you? Or are you going the other way?
This is one of the weakest elements of EAS, IMHO. Many people on the
highways have NO IDEA where the weather (or other disaster)
is. County names are only of use to locals in almost all cases.
Here's another: "State Route 77 is blocked due to a crash in Navajo
County." So, if you are somewhere near Route 77, do you worry
about going north or south? Is the crash close to you, or eight hours
away? Too many EAS messages are like this.
At 08:55 AM 8/31/2006, Bailey, Scott wrote
>IMHO.....I've felt the public and listeners for the most part care less
>about a station COL. The only interest the Legal ID draws is us in the
>industry, be it the broadcasters or hobbyist.
>The everyday person that we see on the street each day only cares about
>programming. Doing a legal ID is just to satisfy the FCC, to make sure
>"we are on our toes", and means nothing to the average Joe or Suzie out
>there listening.
_______________________________________________________________________
Barry Mishkind - Tucson, AZ - 520-296-3797
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