[EAS] New EAS NPRM now posted on the EAS Forum Website

[Clay Freinwald]

Kelly - 

Some responses to your post below - First a few thoughts - 

1- I can only speak from the perspective of an SECC Chair
2- I cannot speak for other states and how their systems operate, only here
in Washington
3- All states approach EAS differently (Your mileage may vary) 
4- It is vital that everyone separate the National aspect of EAS from the
system that is used by State and Local governments.

Clay

1.  Complexity.  As with anything, reliability becomes compromised the more
complex the system. 

CF - I agree - However don't see how EAS is complex.    Operating a motor
vehicle or your smartphone  is complex too...Initially - like most things it
requires 1) A desire to learn, 2) Some training,  3)A good instructor

 Concerns about someone down the line dropping the ball, ultimately making
your station who carries the erroneous or unreadable information, appear
dumb to listeners and viewers.  

CF - The way to prevent this is by broadcasters that are concerned about the
'EAS Product' being a part of the team that oversees the production of that
product.  This means not sitting on your butt bitching about how bad it
is...but becoming a part of your SECC or LECC to insure that the product is
something you can be proud of. 

>From a programming perspective, at the end of the day your programming or
news departments are responsible for what is broadcast on your channel.
Listeners and viewers don't know if the information, accurate or inaccurate
came from somewhere else.  They heard the poor quality audio or incorrect
information on YOUR station.  

CF - I agree 100%.   This is why I have been preaching to everyone that
participation in EAS Committees should not come strictly from Broadcast
Engineers, but from those that understand what the end product should
consist of and sound like.

Other than NWS, alerts are generally confusing to listeners.

CF - Re-read my previous comments.   The good news is that this is a
correctable situation.    The Washington State SECC is an open organization
to anyone that would like to assist in making the product better.    (Again
I can only speak for Washington State)

  The audio is never consistent in quality, except  consistently bad and a
big departure from the typical station audio

CF- This is why Washington rolled out its own CAP system ...4 year prior to
FEMA IPAWS and why we use MP3 Audio Files that sound great.    If EAS sounds
bad in a state or area...They can change it ....Solving these issues starts
with having the will to do so.

.  Remember the nationwide test?  How about the Zombie Apocalypse alerts?

CF- Now-Now - Don't confuse State, Local and Weather uses of EAS with the
National system - This is like blaming your neighborhood beat cop for things
that go wrong with ATF or FBI.

2.   Concerns about local state and local authorities screwing up the
message which could embarrass 'my' station.  Is there a common protocol for
vetting local and state alerts, then checking accuracy of information again
before sending?  Answer; not that I've ever heard.  Is there proper
training, rehearsals with checks and balances of information before
activating a local or statewide alert? 

CF- There is  - IF YOU WANT THEM TO BE.   Kelly, EAS at the State/Local
level is as good (or bad) as you wish.   This is a decision that is OURS to
make.   EAS is a COOPERATIVE and COLLABORATIVE process.   If you sit it out
and blame others ....You are asking for trouble.

 After years of flailing around trying to develop a common system protocol,
the answer is still no.

CF - CAP is NOT and EAS system - Just like Windows is not a computer.   Both
are languages or systems that enable to the hardware to do greater things,
better.

Unfortunately the system is just too complex with too many human beings
required to perform certain responsibilities, usually outside their job
requirement, or that requires them to care.

CF - I DO NOT agree.     I would doubt that anyone who is involved with the
Washington State system feels that way.   If this is the feeling in other
areas...Time to get involved and make waves.

Kelly

Kelly D. Alford
General Manager of Production and Operations Middle East Broadcasting
Networks, Inc.
Springfield, VA 22153

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