[EAS] Where attention needs to be

[Mike McCarthy]

Leaving things unprotected for open access is akin to leaving your keys 
in the ignition. Someone hops in and takes the car, crashes. Oh, there 
is liability. But who?

Stations (really businesses) who leave these types of low security 
access in place are creating a level of neglect which should be civilly 
pressed by those who are harmed. While this perspective of liability 
would drive every single LP to the sidelines, businesses are never the 
less harmed as a result. And if there can be a tangible loss of business 
or funds assigned to the negligence, then anyone who has insurance to 
cover those looses will file a claim.  And it's those insurance 
companies who will press the issue of negligence against lackluster 
operators.

What I'm saying is simply, this is a market place solution to solve.  We 
don't need the the FCC or feds telling stations to secure their networks 
by rule or policy. Rather, it should be like every other rule on the 
book which holds the licensee accountable for what leaves their 
transmitter.  They would be liable for any security breach(es) resulting 
in inappropriate content reaching the air and leading to other 
downstream repeats.

MM

On 2/15/2013 4:55 PM, Barry Mishkind wrote:
> We are going to see a lot of calls for adding long, involved passwords to EAS boxes.
>
> The one thing I'd hate to see is a series of "advisories," demanding that things be done right away.  We should be taking this opportunity to see what things need to be corrected on EAS ... on station data security in general ... and make an industry-wide report and request to the FCC, etc., to solve the problems.  It should be orderly and deliberate, but faster than the FCC's review of the National EAS test.
>