[EAS] New EAS Forum posting: A vision for what to do now that the FCC has eliminated the GMC

[Barry Mishkind]

At 01:58 PM 1/16/2012, Mike McCarthy wrote:
>I don't think there should be a limitation as to who would have access. The role of public dissemminator can be any one of a number of positions
>depending on the location. Law enforcement leadership would be but one, but not the only one. Mayor, County Board Chair, County EMA Director,
>County/City Medical Director, Fire Chief/Commissioner, are but a few who could also make decisions and they should not be hamstrung by an artifical
>boundary.
>
>It should be up to the state or local jurisdictions to define the person(s) or position(s) with that vested authority to initiate a call to action message.

The problem is/was four-fold

1. Political problems.  We *already* have experiences where a Sheriff had an EAS sent for a lost cat. And you *know* that any prerogative a politician has to feather his nest will be used. Sure, in many cases, it is easier to just run something, and try to educate later. But in some areas, listeners are already turned off by EAS - literally.

2. Geographical problems. When a city is on a state border (or tri-state), the incoming "required" messages can easily overwhelm even a large station, especially when the "judgement" of officials in one state contrasts with that of the neighbor.  Some stations might just become "all EAS, all the time" in such situations - especially if "required."

3. Functional problems. The EAS is currently saddled with a tremendous failure to consider the impact of an alert on the part of many entities with regard to sending them to broadcasters. I personally have heard NWS send out eight Severe Storm Watch/Warnings within 30 minutes, concluding with "This is a severe storm warning for the area 15 miles NW of Tucson and moving West."    (We are in a relatively unpopulated desert, right? This eighth warning was to help whom?)

4. Cooperation problems.  Largely based on the abuses such as noted, broadcasters by the drove have resisted running anything but what is required, subject to the judgement of staff on site.  We face, in most areas of the US, a lengthy process of EMs regaining the trust of broadcasters. The new FEMA certification will help, but it will take time and non-abuse to build the trust now shown in a few areas.  The continued failure of the FCC and FEMA to engage Congress to build a strong bridge between "required" operations by broadcasters and "voluntary cooperation" by EMs means that there is more effort and work than there should be in order to bring people together.