[BC] CAP converter sharing?

[Ed Czarnecki]

There's a difference between the shared antennas and the converter box
(intermediary CAP device, in FCC parlance).  The intermediary device is (as
of June 30th) to be an FCC Part 11 certified device itself.   So, along that
logic, if the JSA has its own legacy EAS encoder/decoder, it needs its own
intermediary CAP device to go with that legacy unit.  Sharing the network
connections to get to the CAP devices is one thing, 

One group that had the idea of using a single shared converter box to
convert CAP to EAS tones, and feed the EAS tones to all their various
stations.  The FCC informed them that would likely be problematic, IIRC.
The CAP-to-EAS translation had to happen at each EAS participant.  A bit
different, in that the stations shared ownership, but were not co-located.
But the underlying logic would seem to apply - the EAS CAP conversion is to
be handed by each EAS Particpant, whether via integrated (single box) CAP
EAS unit, or intermediary (external box) CAP EAS converter...

-----Original Message-----

 From: Gary Peterson

I will elaborate as to what I meant when I referred to a grey area.  A few
years ago, we had a JSA-ed radio station co-located with our owned stations.
The JSA had their own EAS encoder/decoder.  I inquired as to whether they
could legally share the use of our EAS receive antennas on the roof of the
building.  The answer given was yes.  So, a small part of the JSA station's
EAS system did not belong to them.

This begs the question - could Kyle's gaggle of LPFM stations share one ISP
account?  How about sharing the same router?  How about sharing the same CAP
converter, if they all have their own encoder/decoders?  To me, the point in
the entire system at which some legal "sharing" of facilities occurs, is a
grey area.  I would want an opinion from the Commission or legal council.
But, that's just me.

Gary  

"Not so grey.  We had a discussion about this months back and the FCC wants
everyone to have his/her own units for each owner at a common site.
Steve Lewis"

> I don't believe the FCC has allowed radio
stations to share EAS equipment,
unless the stations are commonly owned.  This seems to be one of those >
grey areas.  I guess that I would want an opinion, in writing, from a
trusted source (FCC or communications attorney).

" "If I have multiple stations in a town, is there any reason why a single
CAP converter can't be used as a common source for all of the individual EAS
units?  I'm working with a gaggle of LPFM stations on a common site with low
budgets.
Kyle Magrill" "