[EAS] EAS on Internet Streams

[Gary Timm]

Just a note on the NPR feed - in the Comments to the Third FNPRM, PEPAC suggested that the NPR feed be written into Part 11 as a legal way to monitor for the EAN.
Many states, including mine, rely on this NPR feed, so I have already filed Reply Comments supporting this request.  For anyone with an opinion on the NPR feed, you have one day left to file Reply Coments: www.fcc.gov/ecfs/
 
Lowell,
I thought I heard that NPR now has a hard feed from FEMA and is no longer relying on an off-air signal from PEP WBAL, but would need to confirm with NPR.
 
Gary Timm

--- On Wed, 8/3/11, Lowell Kiesow <lkiesow at kplu.org> wrote:

>From: Lowell Kiesow <lkiesow at kplu.org>

>By the way, this is not meant to be a criticism of NPR.  They have
>done the best they can to bolster EAS with the limited resources
>available to them.  They did this voluntarily and I salute them for
>doing it.  Even with the limitations, their system of distribution is
>probably more robust than what delivers EANs to the rest of the country.

>At 08:02 AM 8/3/2011, you wrote:
>>True, NPR has been feeding EAS to affiliates since since
>>1997.  Washington, and some other states, have integrated into the
>>EAS web.  However, it is not sent over the equipment used for program
>>distribution.  It is sent over a back channel that uses
>>un-repairable, un-replaceable satellite receivers.  If my receiver
>>were to die, the only recourse I have is to try and buy a functional
>>one on ebay.  It would be nice if there was funding for NPR to do
>>this over a system that has modern, reliable equipment.  It is a
>>valuable service and should be treated as such.
>>
>>Not only that, but NPR does not have a direct connection to
>>FEMA.  They rely on receiving the PEP station for the DC area.  If
>>that one station goes down, no EAS via NPR.
>>
>>At 06:39 AM 8/3/2011, you wrote:
>> >NPR feeds EAS to connected Stations.
>> >
>> >Robin Cross
>> >Chief Engineer KCUR