[BC] Fine? 5k for eas botch?

[towers at mre.com]

In defense of Warren's station (WLS), they are in a unique position.  All
Class A clears are in that position. Most cover >100 counties with their
5mV during the day. Can you imagne trying to send EAS alerts to that type
of area.  The station would be "all EAS-All the time" during periods when
severe weather is approaching AND departing their core coverage area.  In
the case of WLS, that would be >20 counties in IL, IN, IA, and WI.  KMOX
would have alerts on 5 states. WBZ would be sending alerts for all 6 upper
New England states.

Local officals have a "ME TOO" attitiude.  If you do it for one, pressure
will build on the station's management to extend it out to "include them"
and "just one more".  Espeically on the BIG wide coverage stations such as
Class A's.

While I agree that stations {{{should}}} relay call to action messages
(Tornado, Flash FLood, and Tsumami, Evacuation), there is a point of
diminishing returns and/or excessive congestion. Our stations only relay
TOR and FFR for the county in which the CoL is located and select adjacent
counties. But for the really wide coverage stations, it doesn't make sense
except for their home county and may first adjacent counties.

MM



> "The ONLY thing required to forward is RMTs and Presidential Messages."
>
> As a matter of obeying the letter of the regulations, yes.  However, as a
> practical/political matter, as (hopefully) an active participant in one's
> community, failing to warn of a local disaster which could cost lives is a
> hole you will not extricate yourself from, no matter how hard you try.
> Trying to explain to local officials that you refuse to participate in EAS
> because of a Washington regulatory agency run amok is going to ring very
> hollow if they perceive, whether based in reality or not, that your
> station could have warned the area and failed to do so, thus possibly
> costing some local citizens their lives.  Funerals and destroyed houses
> cause emotions to run very high.  By way of illustration, I give you one
> word: "Minot."
>
> Sid Schweiger
> IT Manager, Entercom New England
> 20 Guest St / 3d Floor
> Brighton MA  02135-2040