[EAS] Next Generation

[Barry Mishkind]

At 01:57 PM 11/13/2014, Ed Czarnecki wrote:
>Adding such a feature is not overly complex via IP - developing the
>specification and coordinating with the parties will take a bit of time.

        At the risk of sounding like something 
        involving the FEMA could be done in
        a timely manner, without causing more
        problems, maybe this will help:"

        1. The FEMA (Neil) will generate a random series
                of numbers. They will feed them to a 
                port number designated. 
        2. receiver manufacturers would simply add 
                code to monitor that port, and load
                the numbers, FIFO.  Software upload
                provided to users.  
        3. Should an EAN come (or, frankly an RWT,
                so it can be tested!), compare the number
                in the message (could be the first thing
                in the message, preventing a new set of
                headers), and pass on or not.
        4. Done. Secure, except from a takeover of the FEMA.

>Here's a radical proposal (from someone who's been going at it for 18 hours
>for 20 days straight).  Consider the EAN code compromised, and simply
>replace it with another restricted event code.  NEM = national emergency.
>RBD = Really Bad Day.  Whatever.  Just retire the letters EAN if they now
>present a "risk."  The downside would be obsolete all legacy
>devices/converters, so I'm not necessarily pushing that.

        The problem I have with this is that, like the EAN and other
        similar tests, they are all over YouTube.  Changing the code
        would only work until the next test - and would not allow the
        "open ended" timing without software changes. Since the
        new code would be "done" as soon as the first YouTube
        video was uploaded, the random number stored and compared
        makes it easier to implement, faster (it could be as quick as
        coders can do it), and basically secure, so long as the FEMA
        and PEP sites are secure.