[BC] Fine? 5k for eas botch?

[Warren Shulz]

In Chicago we don't fail to alert when it has merit.  To that end...

The local Chicago area EAS plan allows the Mayor of Chicago access to LP
stations from the Chicago E911 center.  We test this link  quarterly
with a RMT issued from the Chicago E911 Center.

The governor has access to all of Illinois from the Springfield EOC.  We
have setup an e mail PC (owned by state) and connected the PC to the
state's EAS unit for a governor's alert.  The Governor can email a wav
file message to the EOC for activation.  

We tested, inadvertently, June 26, 2007 with a hot code EAN from a FEMA
source into the Springfield EOC that took over the entire state from the
IL EOC. People say the Daisy chain won't work - WLS was taken over in 34
seconds after the alert was received at the Springfield EOC.  

The state EAS link is tested each month with RMT issued form the
Springfield EOC to all LP stations and in turn the entire state.  We
have been compliant for a governor's EAS alert since 1997.  If the
elected official needs access they have it at the ready.  

Any activation after that is decided by local area LP stations on their
own with their local plans.  We have about 6 local plans in IL active. 

NWS is working on a HazCollect product that will give any emergency
manager access to local station (areas) via the NWS weather radio.

Illinois was one of the first states to adopt an Amber Alert using NWS
as the conduit to bypass the LP blockage issue.  We established a link
from IL state police dispatch in Springfield in which they can upload an
Amber alert to NWS and produce Amber Alerts to specific areas in
minutes.

So in Illinois we are at the ready to alert the public to a real need.
Programmers (TV/Radio/Cable) are not going to allow use of EAS unless
the source is valid and of extreme importance.  As it goes the majority
of events are new bulletins and don't warrant EAS activation.

Warren Shulz
IL SECC


-----Original Message-----
From: broadcast-bounces at radiolists.net
[mailto:broadcast-bounces at radiolists.net] On Behalf Of Sid Schweiger
Sent: Friday, October 09, 2009 6:49 AM
To: Broadcasters' Mailing List
Subject: Re: [BC] Fine? 5k for eas botch?


"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


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