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

[Tom Taggart]

Richard:

Look at Gary Timm's article entitled "waivers."  As I read
the Report and Order, if the equipment:

A: Meets the rules for EAS equipment under the old rules;
and

B: Has passed the FEMA certification process; then it would
be considered type accepted for EAS use.

So,to answer your question, there doesn't seem to be any
reason for a delay in the June 30 date since the existing
CAP equipment in the field is then "type accepted," and no
formal certification process is needed.

Now, of course, the FEMA CAP certification included
text-to-speech; but new Sec. 11.56 (a)(2) apparently
prohibits the use of text-to-speech. So, technically, having
equipment that would respond to text-to-speech would
theoretically (and maybe practically) put stations out of
compliance since this equipment would not meet type
acceptance under these new rules. 

However, stations are required to follow state plans
approved by the FCC, so if the state plan (accepted by the
FCC) specified text-to-speech transmission of messages by
CAP, then we would have an interesting legal argument.

Lawyers love interesting legal arguments, because that means
more billable hours.  Hardly an incentive for station
owners, though.