[EAS] EAS and CMAS

[Adrienne Abbott]

Am I missing something, Clay? Is there no way to tune the stations you
receive on your cellphone? I can tune the FM radio in my iPod.

Most people aren't stupid...most will react to the "Check Media" note on
their cell phones with the FM chips the same way they react now if they
don't like what they're hearing on their car radios--they tune around to
find what they want. Most markets now have FM news-talk stations...we have
two here in Market 124. Those stations will be heavily involved in covering
any local emergency. And there are even some FM entertainment stations that
still have live staff most of the time if not 24/7 and if those stations are
like some in our market, many of those jocks--pardon me, air
personalities--have been around forever and have seen everything and know
more about how catastrophic events affect their community than some of those
shiny new TV reporters who've never even heard of EAS, much less understand
the relationship to CMAS or WEA. 

The question still is--why do we broadcasters put up with the current Public
Warning situation when it is within our capability to change it?

Adrienne Abbott
Nevada EAS Chair

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?    
Clay Freinwald