[EAS] Getting FCC approval on state plans

[Dave Turnmire]

We sent the FCC a revised State Plan in January 2013, which they 
acknowledged receipt of within a day.  While there were some editorial 
"clean up" items, mostly it was just reflecting CAP and other recent FCC 
rule changes.  Then silence for several months, at which point they 
asked us to make some minor editorial changes that they themselves 
referred to as "nicks" (as in nick pick).  Like using the correct symbol 
for FCC rule citations.  Then a few more months of silence at which 
point they asked for another couple minor editorial changes.  More 
silence until January of this year when they wanted us to submit it all 
over again... with a new signature page to reflect change of staff at 
their end.

Now it is 18 months since our original submission.  All along, most 
email queries are ignored or at least not responded to.  Calling their 
office almost always gets voice mail and messages left by me are 
typically not returned.  All very frustrating.  Long ago they said that 
they were fine with our plan... it had made it past the administrative 
assistant (or whatever her title is), and past her boss, the "Associate 
Chief, Policy Division".  Supposedly waiting on the bureau chief to 
sign-off, but supposedly he doesn't have time to read State Plans.  And 
of course, that person changed during the middle of all of this.  On 
those few occasions they communicated with me and made some request, I 
responded to that request within one or two days.

Supposedly the Associate chief is trying to do what seems like the 
sensible thing to me and get the Bureau Chief to delegate the authority 
to sign-off on these plans to him.  Supposedly their legal department 
has OK'd this sometime in the last several months.  But one way or 
another... the plan is stuck and only rarely can I actually communicate 
with anyone there.  Multiple times I have had an "appointment" to talk 
on the phone and at the appointed time... no answer.  Likewise I've been 
told the approval is days away on multiple occasions.

Normally the last thing I'd want to do is discuss this sort of thing 
"publicly", but my patience with this government behavior is running 
real thin.  I myself have worked for and with various government 
entities and people for 35+ years and frankly, I have generally had good 
luck.  Even the much maligned DMV seems to work well... in my town at 
least.  Some of you have better "connections" than I... so any 
suggestions would be welcome regarding getting our State Plan approved...

Thanks

Dave