[EAS] FW: June 6 EAS webinar - key takeaways

[Tom Taggart]

Most of the stations in my area--including the primary
relay--use the Sage digital boxes.The lack of software for
the Sage will become a key issue.  Especially in addition to
the other problems Al Kenyon references. Out here in the
real world it is very difficult for small stations to find
competent IT folks--something that needs to be considered in
the design of the next generation of these devices.  They
should be built with as least as much silicon smarts as the
typical off-the-shelf PC.

I've already e-mailed the NAB--not that they are likely to
do anything--but we will need someone to pound common sense
into the FCC's enforcement types during this transition
period.  They will want to jump up and down about the threat
to public safety if they find someone with a box that's not
talking to FEMA; then levy some horrendous fine.

Which, of course, will simply solidify their reputation as
bagmen for the Congress. My Sage has been consistently
pulling in NWS alerts, RWT's and RMT's for almost a year
now. The public is being warned. Missing FEMA tests for a
few months more while software issues are being resolved
won't hurt anyone. Besides, the next national emergency will
probably aired lived on Fox & CNBC well before we would get
any CAP message (I was watching CNBC on 9/11).