[EAS] The coming evolution of CAP-EAS

[Clay Freinwald]

Agree, great discussion.

Recalling one of the phrases used for IPAWS refers to a system that would be
able to communicate messages to many devices.

There are a number of 'devices' that take information from CAP and do
different things with it....For example, TV Stations might wish to use
pictures for Amber related issues...or, as suggested, maps of a plume for a
Haz-Mat incident etc.

With the ability of the CAP message to transport various elements from
sources to different destinations and devices it's not hard to imagine it
being used for purposes that are well beyond what might be installed in a
radio or TV station.  

We need to be mindful of issues like file size and system throughput
capacity.

Here in the Seattle area, in the past, we have had discussions about using
our analog Local Relay Networks (LRN's) for the carriage of Non-EAS
messages, more specifically, for the distribution of follow-up information
for the electronic media.    Now that everyone has email attention has been
re-focused.

Clay Freinwald.

-----Original Message-----
From: eas-bounces at radiolists.net [mailto:eas-bounces at radiolists.net] On
Behalf Of Gary Timm

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Great discussion over the last couple days.
I think we're finally reaching a consensus:
IPAWS CAP EAS is the doorbell.
IPAWS CAP non-EAS is for important follow-on information.
The issue I see is that there is no accepted way for EM to get IPAWS CAP
non-EAS messages to broadcasters.  The only IPAWS CAP messages that appear
on the EAS Atom Feed are those fully coded for EAS and are thus meant for
immediate broadcast.
How do we provide EMs with a way to send us non-EAS maps, etc. when our
current EAS/CAP units only pull down EAS-coded messages?
One way as Richard points out below is the next generation of smarter
appliances.
One other option I see is a nationwide agreement that something like the ADR
Administrative Message shall be for non-immediate-broadcast EAS messages.
These would be the "non-EAS" messages in essence, but still need to carry a
valid EAS code to get through the system.
I'm not sure what the avenue would be to enshrine ADR or some other code for
this purpose, but do others have alternate ideas to get CAP messages and
their enhanced content to broadcasters without setting off the EAS bells and
whistles?
 
Another idea is that FEMA does provide a second CAP message feed for PUBLIC
alerts (meant for use by 3rd parties like Google to relay the alerts to the
public, not for the public itself to access).  This feed has all IPAWS CAP
messages on it, not just EAS.  I think I heard on a webinar that those
PUBLIC messages are actually available on the EAS Atom feed but our units
don't access them.  Maybe one of the vendors can speak to that.  That PUBLIC
CAP message category might be another way for EM to issue non-EAS messages
we could access.
Maybe the vendor and FEMA eyes on the list can lend an opinion on that.
I suppose EAS/CAP units would violate FCC certification if they pulled down
anything other than EAS messages?  And how would they decide which PUBLIC
messages to pull down?  Still some issues to work out with that idea as
well.
 
Other ideas?
 
Gary Timm

--- On Sat, 11/3/12, Richard_Rudman <rar.bwwg at gmail.com> wrote:

>From: Richard_Rudman <rar.bwwg at gmail.com>

>__________________________________________________________
>Recent posts on this and other lists prompted me to write the following:

>Looking far down the road, my EAS/CAP wish list starts off with CAP-aware
end user warning appliances that can receive fully enabled CAP messages
without the current need to always fully interrupt main audio or video
on-air program streams. Such "appliances" might be part of the next
generation of radio RDS, radio HD, and cable video display technology. How
about CAP-aware car and portable radio receivers that can store or display
information?

>Support information such as Frank suggests could not only be delivered to
such devices, but this information could trigger user-programmed alarms at 3
AM, activate external devices to warn people with hearing or sight
impairment, and eventually link to language translators specially written
and  "trained" for warning messages.

>Richard Rudman
>Core BWWG Member
>Vice Chair, CA SECC