[BC] Re: EAS

[Jerry Mathis]

On 3/11/09, Larry Fuss <lfuss2 at cox.net> wrote:
>
> > One BIG problem is that MPR (Mississippi Public Radio) does NOT relay
> their
> Statewide EAS tests and alerts over their Network. The State Chair has been
> trying to get them to cooperate for years, but this has apparently borne no
> fruit.
>
> >The last RMT we didn't get was last September, and I think that was
> because
> the
> NOAA weather radio hadn't yet been set up to do MS RMT's.
>
> Jerry,
>
> EAS has been around since '97.  You'd think they could have figured out
> these issues
> by now.

The issue I REALLY don't understand is, how are they getting away with
not relaying the RMT's? This is an FCC requirement, it's got nothing to do
with the State EAS plan. Who's minding the store?

LP-1s and LP-2s that don't cooperate as they are supposed to, need
> to be
> replaced.  It should be up to the state chairman to do that.

It's my understanding, from experience in other states, that stations
VOLUNTEER to become LP's--they are NOT designated as such against their
will. When I was in Indiana, and I was there in '97, the State was looking
for stations to become LP-1's and -2's. I stepped up and volunteered one of
the stations in the cluster. IIRC, it became the LP-1 for one OA, and the
LP-2 for another. Perhaps no one over in your OA's wants to be an LP.

And there needs to be more communication.  Perhaps a listserv like this for
> any stations
> in MS that want to sign up.

I've never heard the State chair here ask publicly for stations to assist in
the EAS plan. In Tupelo, the LP-1 is doing a good job for the OA. I don't
think there is a designated LP-2. I'd have to clear it with my company, but
I wouldn't mind becoming the LP-2 if I were asked. I have convinced the
staff here that we should be first and foremost with weather and public
service warnings. In Meridian, one of my stations is ALREADY the LP-1 (WMSO,
formerly WJDQ).

It's a shame the stations in your OA don't take EAS seriously. I don't
understand why enforcement hasn't caught up to them before now.

As it stands now, if I miss receiving a test, I
> have to call
> around to people who don't have a clue about anything, so I just quit
> wasting my time.
>
> LF

I've followed this thread all the way, and I know what the others have told
you. Technically and legally, they are correct IMO: to cover yourself, you
need to follow up on every missed test. However, I would understand that if
the stations you call are for all practical purposes refusing to cooperate,
I would make a specific statement to that effect and put it in the front of
my EAS log. I've been fortunate; I have found contact persons at the two
stations we monitor, and if I'm missing anything, I go straight to those
people. They're good at getting back to me. On the theory that you catch
more flies with honey than vinegar, I'm always polite and make sure that I'm
asking about their missing tests, and not telling them they must have missed
them. And there's been a couple of times when it turned out to be MY
problem, and not theirs!

-- 
> Jerry Mathis