[EAS] Should the RWT EAS Code be abolished?

[Mike McCarthy]

Then RMT's should be semi-monthly. But I have a specific objection to 
RMT's barging over content twice a month. They're more obtrusive and 
tend to be poor audio quality unless the audio is locally originated by 
CAP encoding.In today's automated world, that means possible stepped on 
spots and a greater chance of the stepping occurring ***unless*** the 
automation is 1) capable of being notified and can handle polite 
forwarding; and 2) The station chooses to spend the money to program the 
system so it can do that. Most of the systems out either can't or are 
not programed to do #1, and even fewer stations care about #2.

RWT's can be integrated in traffic and made part of the programming 
sequence. Heck...even sell them as sponsored, but non-adjacents. "EAS on 
KRUD is brought to you in part by Joe's Cell Phone Emporium, Ralph's 
Auto, and Alex's Carp Bar. Call in your order and reservation now while 
enroute from the creek."

Sure, there can be further accounting. How about an MP3/audible log of 
the as-aired event from the station's logger. Oh wait...that's not 
required. RWT's are the simplest means to verify the gear is working, 
even in automation. Whether the gear is in the program chain is a 
willful act of the licensee and something standards and conventional 
practices has no control over.

I stand by my comments.

MM

On 11/24/2011 3:53 PM, Barry Mishkind wrote:
> At 12:46 PM 11/24/2011, Mike McCarthy wrote:
>> It's this simple.  There are many licensees who would *****never****
>> test the box no matter the message.
>          Mike:  RMT
>
>> The EAS will become even more an afterthought than a footnote and nuisance.
>          Mike:  RMT
>
>          Nevertheless, there could be much better
>          accounting of tests.  In the vast majority
>          of cases, even having a tape proves nothing.
>
>          I know of at least one station that, for over
>          three months, filed tapes showing RWTs,
>          and even RMTs, only to discover the
>          gozintas were connected directly to the gozoutas.
>
>          Without solving that sort of situation,
>          it doesn't matter even if 100 "required"
>          tests are sent.
>