[EAS] FCC NPRM on improving EAS just issued

[Bill Ruck]

There is one other "little" problem with EAS.  (And EBS before that 
and CONELRAD before that. . .)

My Vice President - Engineering and General Counsel, retired FCC, and 
both PE and Esq., informs me that the Communications Act of 1934 
prohibits censorship.  This can be done both ways: "You can't say 
this" and "You must say this."

He told me that someone could challenge the Presidential finding 
giving him authority and win in court.

That is why EAS must be VOLUNTARY.

My observation is that at a local level there is no carrot or 
stick.  NWS is motivated to at least try to get out warnings but 
counties (and perhaps cities) seem to be extremely clue-impaired.  At 
a higher level my observation is "Why are we spending all this money 
on OES since we haven't had a flood, fire, earthquake, etc. in years."

There is no absolutely no technical reason why the citizens in the 
United States of America can not have a well executed timely warning 
system.  It just takes money.

Bill Ruck
Curmudgeon
San Francisco