[EAS] Cable TV Problems

[Adrienne Abbott]

David wrote: I am concerned that the issue will not get resolved until there
is a federal requirement.  

Again, cable override is not just a cable issue--it affects broadcasters too
and everything we do with EAS. We found out during the digital transition
that the public doesn't differentiate between their cable subscription and
broadcast TV. It's all the same to them and they don't understand why their
favorite network TV shows get interrupted by EAS activations or they don't
get warning messages at all. Either way, they blame broadcasters for the
problems. 

Unfortunately, Nevada communities along with those in many other states gave
up local control of their cable franchises under pressure from the cable
industry. The result has not been as promised: lower rates and better
service. And now we have no leverage to mandate the replacement of the older
boxes or elimination of local broadcast channels from force-tuning. 

If the cable industry is going to remain silent on this issue, we won't. And
we can't afford to. EAS is not a revenue generator for the broadcast
industry, but we willingly accept the burden as part of our mandate to serve
our communities. It's more than obvious at this point with the cable
industry's collective heads-in-the-sand attitude that federal regulation is
needed to untangle this mess. I hate government interference and regulation
as much as the next Tea Party member, but it is needed in this case. 
Adrienne

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