[BC] EAS box placement

[Darryl Parker]

CFR11.51
"(o) Either manual or automatic operation of EAS equipment may be used
by EAS Participants that use remote control. If manual operation is
used, an EAS decoder must be located at the remote control location and
it must directly monitor the signals of the two assigned EAS sources. If
direct monitoring of the assigned EAS sources is not possible at the
remote location, automatic operation is required. If automatic operation
is used, the remote control location may be used to override the
transmission of an EAS alert. EAS Participants may change back and forth
between automatic and manual operation." 

Regards,
Darryl E. Parker
TFT, Inc.

-----Original Message-----

 From: 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.