[EAS] More Testing

[Bill Ruck]

I've read some very good comments.

A few points:

1.  This list is broadcast dominated.  (Even worse, broadcast 
engineering dominated.)  But Part 73 is only a part of the whole EAS 
/ emergency public information world.  And a part that is getting 
smaller each day.  Maybe in the CONELRAD days the broadcast community 
was dominant but no longer.  Getting the word out now requires 
participation of lots of other media.

2.  All emergencies are LOCAL.  But the CONELRAD / EBS / EAS plans 
are the opposite: top down, federally dominated, with a mention of 
state and local participation.  Some states have developed working 
plans but not many.  Also one needs to keep in mind that California 
has counties larger than some states.  What works in one state does 
not necessarily work in another.

3.  The same is true with local agencies.  Some operational areas can 
have a dominant participant (like LA county) but other operational 
areas like San Francisco do not have a dominant county and getting 
all of them to a table is near impossible.  For example, we have 
competing and completely un cooperating transit agencies.  If one 
wants to go from one area to another you may have to juggle schedules 
from 3 or 4 transit agencies.  Good luck.  I have been known to say 
"If counties were allowed to have armies we would have border 
wars."  The only way to get cooperation here is a large carrot and an 
even bigger stick.

4.  On the local thread, it is the local public safety agencies that 
should originate warnings and alerts.  And tests.  These public 
safety agencies work 24 x 7.  Even small rural counties have a way of 
answering 911 (it is called a Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP) 
at all times.  Many counties have set up arrangements that during off 
hours they transfer the PSAP functions to a shared dispatch center 
and share the costs.  Since emergencies are not limited to Monday to 
Friday business hours it makes sense to me to have local agencies 
originate tests throughout the day and every day of the week.  Tests 
are important both for equipment issues AND staff training.

5.  Today's RWT is theater.  More bluntly, masturbation.  It is done 
to meet a mandated requirement but for a station to send a RWT means 
absolutely nothing.  Especially if the RWT is originated 
automatically by the station's encoder.  Staff training?  Come on.

6.  I will ask a couple of people that I know work at PSAPs / 
dispatch centers to join the list to balance out the broadcast 
side.  Maybe even someone from the police / fire world.

There needs to be some major changes to EAS to bring it into 2011 as 
well as resolve reality issues.  My proposed RPT is a start.

I am getting tired, though, of the constant never ending discussions 
about how to arrange the deck chairs on the Titanic as the bow goes 
under the waves.  We have work to do here.

Bill Ruck
Curmudgeon
San Francisco