[EAS] Ira's Comments

[Clay Freinwald]

Tom - 

With all due respect - I don't agree - and here's why - 

> I agree that this would all be easy should the FCC create a new 
Originator Code, for the sake of this email, lets call it GMC.  

> To make a legacy EAS box work with the new GMC Originator 
Code you would have to modify all the in-place EAS boxes.

> To the best of my knowledge there has been no conversation 
about creating such a new code and the equipment changes that 
it would mean.

> There is the additional problem that some manufacturers of legacy 
EAS Equipment are no longer in business and/or do not support the 
equipment they once made.    

> If I were creating such a system, I would want a couple of things -
1- The receipt of a GMC message would have to tell the unit that
it must run the announcement, interrupt the program circuit etc.
2 - Unlike the EAN which has a singular purpose, I would want 
the GMC to have access to the full 'library' of Event Codes, or, 
more simply, not be limited to what SAME can do.
(Governors are going to want to be able to address a number of 
different types of emergency situations)....I have a couple of 
choices - 

a - Band aid the present system and keep the 15 year old products for the 
next 15 years (Until they are 30) 

b - Embrace CAP and the new hardware that is being introduced that 
put the old EAS to shame.

> There is a huge problem with SAME - It's old, limited, and 
does not really address the needs of broadcasters or wireless 
gizmo's.   CAP gets around these problems, very nicely...and 
the FCC is well aware of it.    Expanding SAME is likely viewed
as a step backward.

> I know that many at the FCC view today's EAS Equipment as
old, tired and outdated and that the time has come to move on.

> We need to understand that everyone has embraced CAP
and that broadcasters are no longer the primary player in the 
world of Public Warning.   We have (to some degree by our 
own actions) been reduced to being just another tool in the tool
box of public warning.   (Dig into Rev 911, CMAS etc) 

Tom - If there was a huge amount of pressure to keep what we have
and make it work that would be one thing...but this is not the case.
Broadcasters need to wake up and smell the flowers and understand 
that EAS can be made a whole lot better and the application of 
band-aids is really a poor solution.   I would bet that you are using 
windows and not DOS, sitting in front of a color display and not
one that's Amber or Green for similar reasons.    If you work 
with a broadcast station chances are that you have purchased 
greatly improved Audio Processing, Computers, Copiers etc etc 
for similar reasons that I am excited about the next generation of 
EAS.   

Perhaps, as some have said, I am living in a different world than
most here in Washington State as we are already using a CAP  based 
EAS system and look forward to the day that GMC will elevate 
EAS to something that can actually be counted on by Emergency 
Managers.

Clay Freinwald
Washington State SECC Chair