[BC] The point of EAS?

[towers at mre.com]

I think there needs to be a simple distinction made here.  EAS as a
technical system isn't broken. EAS as an automated system happens to work
if configured correctly. The SAME coding system functions quite well and
efficiently technically speaking. I challenge anyone who argues the SAME
coding system is technically broken. Short of a definable malfunction
(equipment/hardware or human misprograming), you won't... SAME as a
technical system is functional and quite efficient in disseminating the
basic facts of what, where, and how long.

Conversely, it is as a matter wide acceptance the present EAS system total
platform is disfunctional at minimum and completely "corrupted" by those
who need to manage it's implimentation. The EAS as a total hazard alert
operating system breaks down in the middle and beyond from the issuing
agency. The information get's bogged down in either regulatory gobly-gook,
political turf protection, or complete ignorance of the intended benefits.

As an interested emergency comunications contributor, I find it appalling 
fully automated stations ignore their responsability to notify the public
of approaching hazardous conditions. This is where complusory immediate
forward of call to action messages would come into play. It would FORCE
walk away/100% automated operators to take heed of their fiduciary
responsability to the public which they are OBLIGATED to serve. If for
nothing else, it will put a "pilot" at the helm of their ship should they
choose continue a policy of nothing but RMT and EAN/EAT.

Manned operations...well that's a bit murky...

In so far as station's orignating EAS messages unilaterally, Larry Fuss's
operation did the right thing by blasting an EAS message warning the
island of a pending tidal wave. His PEOPLE on staff reacted to a known
hazard. While I tend to agree with the prevailing attitude of letting the
government orignate messages, there are times where direct knowledge or
first hand observation of a pending event warrants unilaterial action
before the governments creaky gears start to spin.


MM

> I wrote this to an EAS list recently.
>
> Frankly, I don't see the point in EAS.  The CAP program won't improve
> anything.
>
> There is NO ONE out there in Radio Land with EAS decoders.  NO ONE!
> Let's ask TFT how many receivers they have sold!  Those were just
> dual- tone decoders anyway.
>
>
> The official way to notify the public of a nuclear attack is no longer
> EAS, but NOAA Weather Radio.  Why?  People actually have NOAA weather
> radios with SAME decoders.

SNIPPED

>
> I am an emergency prepariteness nut, so I would be happy to set up EAS
> decoders, but I know that EAS is a failed system.  Broadcasters won't
> alert me.  NOAA will.
>
> Larry's stations are a bit of an exception, but it wasn't EAS that
> alerted the public.  It was a real, live, broadcaster doing the right
> thing.  The duck farts didn't do a thing.
>
> --chip
>