[EAS] Yesterday's (Tuesday's) CAP RWT

[Barry Mishkind]

At 07:23 AM 10/11/2012, Ed Czarnecki wrote:
>I stopped by FEMA yesterday, and was told that they were testing some
>internal software, and some RWTs to test and validate the new software.  I
>don't think that's unreasonable at all - they upgraded software and needed
>to run a test.

        First,  As has been mentioned, until we hear something 
        from the FCC, a lot of folks are nervous about logging,
        especially when some get the test and others do not. 
        This creates a lot of questions and posts from around
        the country. 

        If you don't care. Fine. But there are many who are
        uneasy until the FEMA "settles down" and appreciate
        some reassurance of what is going on. 

        Secondly, it was done in the evening, not during the day,
        so it caused a number of people to react to the
        "unusualness" of the test.

        Third, it was just last week that some at the FEMA had
        been working on communication - telling us they'd
        be trying to be more "open" about things. 

        Fourth, just as it has taken nearly a decade to impress
        on some NWS people what "on the air" and "interruption"
        means, we have another learning situation here. It is
        important for the industry and the FEMA to talk, not
        operate in the dark.

        And fifth, yes, a number of stations do use relaying the RWT
        as a way to ensure they send one each week, just in case
        the local operator errs, forgets, or the automation glitches.
        The EB seems to think enforcing this rule is so important
        that it causes stations to run multiple tests rather than
        risk a missing test and a fine and lawyers' fees.

>Neil also had posted the following on the SBE EAS list yesterday:

        A large number of people are not on the SBE list. 
        That is one of the reasons for this list.

        There are many ways to do it, including ADRs, but
        Neil needs to communicate with the *whole* industry.
        And it is past time for this communication to happen.