[BC] EAS box placement

[Dana Puopolo]

The Pennsylvania Assoc. of Broadcasters' self inspection guy REFUSED to
certify a client station of mine unless their EAS equipment was physically
located at their main studio. We had put it in Boston which is manned 24/7 and
used Barix Boxes to send the LP1, LP2 and NOAA audio to it from tuners located
at the main studio. We were able to send and recieve EAS tests fine-including
monthlys-and had a year's proof of this. Nonetheless, he said NO and as a
result the licensee spent THOUSANDS of dollars coming up with an alternate
plan.

I argued that the FCC was asked and answered this exact question by the
National Supervisory Network back in the late 80's, to no avail.

So, even though the FCC says one thing, the MORONS can say yet another-and
have it stick!
In simpler terms, YMMV!

-D

From: Broadcast List USER <Broadcast at fetrow.org>

No, the equipment doesn't have to be located at the "Main" Studio.
It is just that when the FCC Inspector comes in, you need to be able
to ORIGINATE an EAS Test from the main studio, or more specifically,
you need to be able to originate an EAS MESSAGE from the "Main" studio.

It doesn't matter if the EAS equipment is at the transmitter, the
real studio, or in some completely unrelated city, where the
corporate offices are located.  You just need to be able to send the
codes, open a mic, and make the announcement, then send the EOM data.