[BC] Getting the LP-1/2

[towers at mre.com]

Since one of my stations in in the area which Warren comments, I need to
clarify a couple things. The WLS thing was/is an urban legend started by
some mis-informed people and the fact no one wanted to be a LP2.  They
knew WLS was a PEP station and that fact alone "should suffice" for a
defacto monitoring assginment.  It was never codified at the state
level...and appropriately so.

1) The IN. SECC plan DOES NOT include WLS as a LP monitoring assignment.
Last time I looked at the plan, there was no mention of WLS as a LP
monitor.  Only the LP1 and NWS. There is no LP2.  NWS doesn't send the
state RMT message for IN.

WLS is mentioned as a monitoring station for the LP1. Which makes no sense
as WLS doesn't carry any IN state messages.

Any station monitoring WLS as it's LP-2 will be cited.

2) We petitioned and received approval from the FCC to monitor the South
Bend operating area LP-1 as our station's LP-2 assignment. It took some
doing both legally and technically to receive their signal as we're behind
some terrain and the RX antenna is limited to 10ft. AGL.  But we're nearly
100% on them and we recently passed the INBA AIP.

Many other stations in the eastern part of that operating area area also
doing the same thing now that we broke that log jam to secure a LP2.

The problem with that whole scheme is, Indiana's daisy chain system is no
different than the EBS of old. Our LP-1 gets their messages from the same
station we'er monitoring. If the message doesn't make it to South Bend, we
won't get it at all.

MM

 > A few comments about EAS.

SNIPPED

 >
 > Fourth Comment - With man-made noise and night sky-wave interference a
 > South Bend, IN TV station often misses overnight EAS alerts from WLS-AM.
 > In NW Indiana no station would take on LP role so WLS-AM was selected
 > without permission.  LP operational areas are limited to AM ground-wave
 > and FM radio horizon coverage in size.  Activation of an EAS decoder on
 > sky-wave may not be reliable.
 >
 > WLS-AM fulfills the FCC monitor requirement for stations in NW Indiana.
 > One best hope was a NW IN non-com TV station.  The chief operator
 > refused and actual wrote a comment in FCC forum requesting the FCC to
 > delete Part 11 EAS rules.  When I reviewed last week's 40 page GAO
 > report on alerts and warnings I am starting to agree with that comment.

 >
 > Warren Shulz
 > IL SECC