[EAS] EAS and CMAS

[Schall, Tim]

In response to both this and Clay's recent challenge to name the FM stations that MIGHT do something with a CMAS message in the Seattle area, I offer this.  I'm pretty sure that I would tune to KIRO or KUOW if I found such a message on my cell phone.  I can't really think of any others, with the possible exception of KOMO-FM, that has a marginal signal into Seattle and the ability to have a news room staff go after such an issue.

The point is made that most stations won't "break the format" for something as vague as a CMAS message seems to be.

So 2 or 3 stations out of 25+ that service Seattle.  The odds are poor.

Tim

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

In response to the recent post by Adrienne - 

My fear is if all cellphones had an FM receiver....and thousands of people suddenly received a CMAS message (like I received recently) they would still
be mystified as to what to do about it.    In this area (Seattle) we have
probably 25-30 FM stations. ...How is this person going to know where to
tune for additional information?    It's a certainty that not all FM
stations are going to suddenly stop what they are programming and air follow-up information for the vague CMAS message.....In fact, I would doubt that more than a couple of FM stations will agree to 'break-format' to do anything in the way of public warning messages.  Our last hope for that
concept was dashed by the recent FCC action that tossed out GMC.    Until
such time as we have a major attitude change in the world of radio broadcasting - Cellphones might just be better off if they included NWR
receivers.   At least the NWS does not turn their noses up at the mention of
the letters EAS

Clay Freinwald

You'd think the least we could do would be to create a public demand for radio and TV on our cell phones...how hard can it be people? We've got to start talking to the staff in our newsrooms.

Adrienne Abbott
Nevada EAS Chair

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