[EAS] FM Enabled Phones to Receive Emergency Messages

[Clay Freinwald]

I have to respond to this one - 
Clay Freinwald

Most of the arguments I've heard against using the FM in the phone are a
moot point.

Perhaps I'm completely off base - but it would seem to me that since nearly
ALL FM radio stations across the country pass the EAS signal - that the
simplest solution would be a modification to the phone itself.

CF - There are only TWO  EAS Events that are required to be passed by FM
Radio Stations - EAN's and RMT's.   >>> ALL <<< other events, including
tornado warnings can be ignored by the broadcast station.    I don't think
the average cellphone user is interested in RMT's, EAN's perhaps.    I
suspect the NAB would like to have cellphone users obtain emergency messages
having to do with local events that would impact the cellphone user.

It seems that (passively, in the background) it would be a small hurdle to
have the phone, once turned on for the first time, actively seek until it
finds ANY station.  It would also seem a small task to have it perform that
again if it lost signal, which would fix the "I moved to a new city"
problem.  It also seems to me that since it decodes data into clear text
already, that it should be able to easily decode the EAS message, and upon
decoding, the message itself could tell the phone which frequency to tune
to, automatically tune it, and put the audio to the speaker - turning the
phone into a walkman during times of EAS distress.

CF - This would work, provided, all station were to air the same message at
the same time.   Whereas broadcasters don't do that, it's a failed system.
There was 'conversation' about having certain message originators (Governor)
be required to relay/broadcast that would have solved part of this equation,
however, this effort did not make it to the rules.

Under these conditions - the use of the EAS in the phone would not require
the cell phone company's cooperation, and the only thing that would turn it
off, would be an option of the end user to physically turn off the radio
receiver.

Am I missing something, or do we as a global society not have the technology
to create a phone that can automagically do that?

CF - We certainly have the technology to do it...But we lack the will to
make it a requirement that would ensure that those that don't agree would
participate.

Sure it would be disruptive to phone calls, etc for the 30 seconds or so
that the message went across - but in a life or death situation - this could
make all the difference in the world.  As long as the authorities didn't
overuse it - it could work.

I'll go back to sleep now.