[EAS] Joplin

[Rich Parker]

FWIW, we have had good meetings with our state EM folks. VEM is working
with us on a master list of 'recommended' alert codes to air/forward.
Having this agreed upon list as an integral part of our State Plan will
do a couple of things:

1) Reduce any ambiguity at the State level - in addition to the 'codes',
there is also to be agreement/guidance as to what those codes are used
for and in what circumstances.

2) Stations can have a subset of 'all' the codes whittled down to the
recommended few that they can use to program their EAS boxes.

In progress is a smaller 'sub set' of codes which should be
automatically forwarded within a very short window (like one minute) -
no matter what, even when unattended - things like TOR for instance.

I realize this may not always scale to larger states and orders of
magnitude more stations, but it provides a reasonable framework which
engineers can take to managers/PD's and show it is all a part of
'voluntary cooperation'.

There are still 'issues' where some stations don't always agree and
won't forward things - and this is where CAP will be extremely helpful;
some stations here cannot even get reception of an NWS station, but we
might be able to put messages on other mediums (cell, IP, HDTV data,
etc) to help that situation. There are also sign boards on the roads
which currently get Amber alerts - we might ask if some stations might
be able to have receivers for those types of radioed message bursts.

And we are just now hearing that NWS is also going to be providing some
form of CAP type messaging.

It's not perfect, but its a step in the right direction - daisy chain
where you can, alternate delivery means when it 'breaks', and a fair
amount of depth in the types of sources that stations can access. This
is where I think CAP/IPAWS can actually 'shine' - in providing those
'other' options for dissemination.

Rich Parker
VPR Engineering
VT SECC

On 5/24/2011 2:17 PM, Marlin Jackson wrote:
> 
> KXLY in Spokane is an LP-1. In agreeing to be an LP-1 we agreed to
> forward all warnings. 74 stations monitor the LP-1 for information. I
> would say if a station is not being monitored by any other station it
> would be up to the station to either forward a warning or do their
> own coverage. Any of our 6 other stations forward all warnings when
> un attended as I believe they should.
> 
> A note: We are not programmed to forward any Statement or Watch. As
> yet we have never received either of those via EAS.
> 
> 
> 
> Marlin Jackson, CSTE Assistant Chief Engineer RF Systems KXLY
> Broadcast Group 500 W Boone Spokane, WA 99201

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