[EAS] Should the RWT EAS Code be abolished?

[Bill Ruck]

My 2 cents worth.

Absolutely the RWT should be abolished.  It is nothing more than an 
artifact of the CONELRAD system when local operators were on duty 
24x7.  Today the RWT has absolutely no meaning.  The air staff (if 
and when there might be somebody on duty) goes through a procedure to 
meet a federal mandated requirement.  If you have your system set up 
for automatic RWT you only comply with the federal requirement.  It 
means nothing.

Since any TV or radio station should not initiate a EAS event by 
themselves it is much more important to get the local OES/EMS 
involved.  My experience in the past was not very supportive.  And my 
expectation is that with today's budgets there is fewer people left 
in OES/EMS.  Local (city and county) agencies are much closer to the 
people than state and federal agencies.  Like politics, emergencies 
are _LOCAL_.  The NWS recognizes this.  Why can't the feds?

Were I made Emperor For Life the RMT would be mandated to be 
originated by local agencies and carried by all stations and carried 
by all other media like cell phones and personal communication 
devices.  Even the Internet!   There would be funding for this 
purpose.  This would be a meaningful test.

And were I made Emperor For Life the NPT would be mandated to be 
originated by Feeble or the White House every quarter.  And combine 
the two into a national RMT once or twice a year.

All tests would be monitored and reports filed.  Discrepancies would 
be followed up and fixed.

Just because once upon a time CONELRAD and EBS started precedent does 
not mean that it should be followed today.  Make all system testing 
relevant.  Practice makes perfect.

The people in the United States deserve nothing less than prompt 
accurate emergency public information.

Bill Ruck
Curmudgeon
San Francisco