[EAS] Tests, tones and technology...

[Adrienne Abbott]

>From the perspective of the broadcasters, this test was a success. FEMA took
over the broadcasters' airwaves to deliver a product to the public via the
Emergency Alert System and the equipment that the FCC designed and mandated
that we use. EAS worked as designed. The product that FEMA gave us was less
than perfect and because the equipment worked the way the FCC designed it to
work, there was nothing broadcasters could do to fix or improve that
product. But we did the job of getting it--warts and all--out to the public.

The fact that the problems we encountered were exactly those that many of
have predicted only enhances the message that we have been trying to
communicate to the FCC for all these years. Now the FCC--and we--have proof
that the PEP network doesn't reach everywhere and that you can't rely on the
NPR network to back up PEP, particularly when they are given a faulty
product. 

The answer is not to throw out all things EAS, but to take what we have
learned and use it to improve the system. We know so much more this
afternoon than we knew this morning about EAS! We know now that EAS can be
used to issue a national warning, we just have to help FEMA and the
equipment manufacturers solve the problems with the audio at the source. We
also have to make sure the public and our media know and understand what
happened. We did our job and everyone out there should pat themselves on the
back for a job well done!
Adrienne

"Radio burps, it cries, it needs to be fed all the time, it requires
constant attention, but we love it." Jim Aaron WGLN 

-----Original Message-----
From: eas-bounces at radiolists.net [mailto:eas-bounces at radiolists.net] On
Behalf Of Wayne R. Miller

Today's test was not a glitch!  It was a disaster.  And no amount of
"tweaking" is going to fix the current EAS system.  We seriously need to
admit that "the emperor has no clothes" and toss out all of Part 11 and the
entire EAS system.

This was an embarrassment to the media and all of us who have tried to make
this system work.  And, trust me, CAP will not make it better and may, in
fact, make it worse. 

I'm not sure what the tabulated results will show....but I think my
result(s) will be to seriously consider removing my Peoria stations from LP
status and then actively searching for my replacement.

I have absolutely ZERO confidence that government at any level can fix this
horribly broken system.  They are much more concerned about their pensions,
health care and promotions than public safety.  I may change my mind
tomorrow, but I am inclined to care just as much!

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