[EAS] Joplin

[Clay Freinwald]

 Wayne -

 In all things like this you have to weigh a number of factors -

On a  -nationwide basis-  is there more infrastructure in place to
 distribute EAS messages with the Internet or RF links?

 I don't know any reason why local broadcasters are going to be prohibited
from doing what they have always done.

 Remember that Local EAS Plans are written based on local needs and
 available infrastructure, ie, a local area can do what they need to do
 using the devices that will do the job.

 Remember that broadcasters are - no longer - the only player in the public
 warning game.

 Remember also that broadcasters have, in many cases, created a reputation
 for being a warning system that cannot always be relied upon due to their
 preference to not break programming to carry state and local warning
 messages thereby creating their own reliability issues.

 Remember that CAP is NOT a new EAS System, but rather a method by which
 the sources of public warnings can rapidly communicate with a number of
 devices and systems (including broadcasters) which reach the public.

 The legacy 'Daisy-Chain' was a lightning rod for critical comments for
 EBS, it remains so with EAS.   Link type relay systems are always subject
 to the weak-link problem.   It's clearly time to move on to
 point-multi-point, redundant and robust distribution systems, the only
 problem is that no one has any money.

 I don't know of anyone that's involved in the planning for the EAS that is
 interested in creating a system that has less reliability.

 Bottom line, Wayne, with all due respect, I feel you might not quite grasp
 what's taking place here.

 Thanks

 Clay Freinwald
 Washington State