[EAS] CMAS

[Clay Freinwald]

Responding to the recent posting by Lowell Kiesow - 

1- The term 'Check Local Media' is a mystery to most.   In fact, I have been
asking a large number of people what this means to them.   I've found I get
a wide range of answers, some of which are not what we are looking for.
The lesson learned from this exercise is - a) There is a need for a
broad-based educational effort, b) consider changing the message to
something that better defines the action that you wish the phone user to
take.   Lowell's suggestion of local radio and TV has a lot of merit.    

2 - Just changing the message does not completely resolve the problem -
Nothing beats Point-Multi-Point distribution of information.    You would
have thought that we would have learned that lesson long ago when the
concentration ratios of the PSTN is compromised by most any large event.
It is not practical to provide a dedicated circuit for each person who is
seeking information.   The best example of PMP distribution is Broadcasting.
Radio and TV use it - So does NOAA Weather Radio.    In fact, CMAS is PMP
also - by design- for the same reasons.

3 - If CMAS is going to direct users to go 'somewhere' then this 'somewhere'
has to be a facility that has the capacity to distribute the information in
a uniform and rapid manner.     This 'facility' does not need to be
interactive in nature !

4- When Broadcasters are attempting to be the provider of this information
and their efforts at getting the info are thwarted by network congestion
this does not bode well for the future of this effort.     I am reminded of
the good old days when AP or UPI would have distributed this information to
them and they would relay it on to the citizens.

5- As many have stated - EAS - and CMAS - are the 'Doorbells'.     They are
the call to 'go to the door to see who is there'.     Those that plan these
systems need to keep in mind that we need a comprehensive system, one that
provides both levels of information.

6- Perhaps one of today's versions of PMP is a Web Site - However that too
has limitations.

Bottom line - 

There is work to do.

Clay Freinwald