[EAS] [sbe-eas] More on the Review of the Emergency Alert System from today's FCC Daily Digest

[Sean Donelan]

On Thu, 31 Mar 2016, Mike McCarthy wrote:
> I am going to go out on a limb and say it will be unlikely a LP-1 or LP-2
> will run multiple EAS messages for multiple languages except in locations
> where, say, more than 40% speak a single non-English language. And even
> then, there will likely be a 2nd LP-2 which does that language and the
> voice message is going to be a government read message. Not one generated
> by station staff. I think that matter was succinctly covered in a NPRM
> recently.

There is a difference between "presenting" and "translating."

The major EAS manufacturers support custom EAS header code 
presentation tables, although some need custom firmware replacement for 
anything beyond english and spanish. Although computer programmers call 
this "translating" its really a "presentation layer" thing.  The EAS 
devices don't actually translate anything, you just load a different 
presentation code table (i.e. how to format a date, or a state/county
names, NWS marine area names).  The presentation code table doesn't
change the EAS protocol.

If an independent spanish language broadcaster chooses a spanish language 
code presentation table for EAS header codes in its EAS box, there is no 
rule requiring it also "translate" EAS header codes into english. 
Independent non-english language broadcasters in every market could 
volunteer to do this today without any FCC rule changes.

Of course, many of the EAS event codes don't make much sense to engligh
language speakers, let alone non-enlish speakers.  Even many emergency 
professionals couldn't explain the practical differences between a CEM, 
CDW, LEA or LEW.  And only the major weather geeks know the subtle 
differences for the weather event codes (Blizzard versus Winter Storm).

Has any EAS SECC or LECC ever turned down a request from any non-english
broadcaster to become a LP-S, LP-A, B, C, D, etc. and volunteer to 
translate messages in real time?  In most parts of the country, the 
SECC/LECC is usually begging for volunteers.  I don't understand how
a FCC rule mandating an LP-S or LP-M station is going to create new
volunteers?

Since the whole state/local EAS thing is voluntary, I have no idea what
the FCC could do if State Emergency Communication Committees just ignored
the request to submit new EAS plans containing multi-language support or 
do the unfunded research and surveys.  II suppose the FCC could fire the 
SECC volunteer members, but then the FCC would be stuck finding new 
volunteers.