[EAS] New EAS NPRM

[Sean Donelan]

On Thu, 3 Jul 2014, Tim Stoffel wrote:
> Where the real carrot and stick is needed though is for tight-fisted 
> broadcasters, who don't see EAS (If implemented properly) as something 
> to spend money on. Especially for commercial broadcasters, all that 
> matters is the bottom line.

In areas of the country with frequent weather and other public emergency
alerts, amber alerts, etc, some broadcasters spend a lot of money on 
non-EAS systems which work well.  In tornado alley and hurricane coasts, 
broadcasters often go wall to wall with news coverage.  They carry live 
news conferences, news directors are in constant communciation with the 
local emergency management public information officers.

There are several expensive news systems that can process weatherwire 
messages, and put them directly on the air with nice graphics, sound 
effects, live and recorded audio even during the overnight hours when the 
news room isn't staffed. However, you will rarely hear EAS squawks on 
those broadcasters beyond the required tests.

At best EAS and CAP seems like a poor station's free newswire service.

Broadcasters with a strong public service interest already are covering 
emergency events with much better sources and systems than EAS, and 
unlikely to use EAS.  Broadcasters that aren't interested in breaking 
into their programming will always have another excuse not to use EAS,
and therefore also unlikely to use EAS.

How many stations are really in the middle, i.e. want to break into
programming with public alerts but can't afford any of the better weather
and news programming systems?