[EAS] NPRM Frustrations

[Tim Stoffel]

When doesn't the FCC overreach these days? You remember the 'regulate broadcasters to death' suggestion that came out very early in the history of the TV spectrum repack craziness? At that time, they said that this was an inside joke from one of their advisers, but I have never not believed this to be what the FCC is in fact, doing. Look at the draconian closed captioning rules they published last year. Or, putting the public file online (a clear case of the fox guarding the henhouse...), and now, this NPRM, with its proposed rules. I sense the FCC wants to add a lot of material to these proposed rules, just based on how many questions they are asking.

But bring on the bobcats!
Tim Stoffel

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-----Original Message-----
From: eas-bounces at radiolists.net [mailto:eas-bounces at radiolists.net] On Behalf Of Adrienne Abbott

Is it just me or is the FCC over-reaching on this NPRM? What Congressional pressures are they receiving to push EAS into more corners of the broadcast universe? It seems like the FCC doesn't understand that an EAS Plan is not a substitute for a state or local emergency communications plan. EAS is one of the tools available to an emergency manager or public safety official for communication information to the community. Not all emergency information is an EAS activation and not all state or local officials want to issue EAS activations. Some actually dislike EAS...