[EAS] EAS and CMAS

[Mike McCarthy]

CMAS is an incomplete tool.  At present, CMAS is the cell systems way to 
counter the FM chip argument here in the US.  They'll point to a dead 
end effect of their subscribers being told by their system to check 
broadcast for more information when there isn't any on 99% of the 
stations AM or FM.

Case in point, I drove into a county under a Blizzard Warning.  CMAS 
sent me an alert with EBS tones and all the fanfare.  Of the 6 stations 
licensed to CoL's in the county, not one was carrying anything on the 
Blizzard Warning. And even with life threatening implications, all they 
played were the hits or the blather of talk radio.

The problem is paradoxical. Until broadcasters step up to meet the needs 
of their listening public in these instances, CMAS is going to a tool 
wedging FM's from being turned on in cell phones.

MM

On 1/2/2013 1:00 PM, Clay Freinwald wrote:
> 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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