[EAS] LPFM Issues

[Mark Piepkorn]

On 7/22/2016 9:16 PM, Rod Zeigler wrote:
> Mark Piepkorn and any other LPFM operators.
> Please accept my personal apologies if you felt that I was painting with too broad a brush. I probably was to a degree.

No worries. Similarly, I hope I didn't sound too defensive. I only meant 
to add nuance.

> While not making excuses please understand that many of our (meaning SECC's) experiences with LPFM's have been on the lower side of the negative/positive scale... The one thing I, as a state chairman, have a real problem with is trying to open a line of communications with the majority of the LPFM operators.

It's easy (and sad) to accept that as true. I'm sure lots of those folks 
see themselves as romantic outsiders and outliers. Self-righteousness 
can make people a giant pain to try to deal with.

On the other hand, as diligent and well-meaning small-time operators, we 
often find governing and leading entities frustrating and distant.

I'm not intending to embarrass or shame anybody, but for instance: When 
we licensed up to Class A and a new frequency a couple years ago, we 
were reaching out to our state EAS contact (as listed at FCC.gov, an 
individual at the office of the statewide NPR syndicate), the state 
broadcasters' association (we're not members because $), and the state 
DPS (which has general EAS info on its website) to get a look at our 
state's EAS plan. We eventually gave up trying to get a response from 
any of them. Nada, zip. We were astonished and disappointed. 
Consequently, we've never seen the plan. We'd really like to. As far as 
we can tell there is no LECC or SECC.

If anybody on this email list can tell me who will be responsive in 
Vermont, or where we can get a PDF of the plan, please do let me know.

(FWIW, we're relaying and logging two LPs, plus an out-of-state LP 
because we're right on the border and have lots of listeners across the 
river. The exceedingly capable Ira Wilner helped us get set up with our 
Sage ENDEC. It suddenly occurs to me to wonder why we didn't ask him who 
to contact about our state plan; I have another email to write when I 
finish this one.)

> It is the onesie's that are hard to contact since our SECC has a limited staff with limited time and budget.

The inverse is also true - the singletons also have those limitations. 
But as I said in the previous post, the burden should properly be on the 
licensee, not you and your staff. Me saying that gets nobody any closer 
to a solution, but at least it absolves you.   :)

> Maybe I am lazy, but if there were state LPFM organizations (even as simple as a FB page) a lot of information could be exchanged in a timely manner.

I doubt you're lazy. I have no doubt that you're working at capacity. 
And I completely agree that it would be fantastic to find champions to 
create dissemination channels. It could be just as easy as you suggest. 
Should the call to implement this be put out to the stretched-too-thin 
payrolled people, or the stretched-too-thin volunteer people? (Sigh.)

> Our state broadcast assn. has created a second mailing list of only engineers (or those that have engineering type duties) that work in, or are responsible for, broadcast stations (any kind) in the state... Any that are reading this and have responsibilities in Nebraska... e-mail me I will see that you get on that list (membership in Nebraska Broadcasters Assn. is not required).

That's terrific! If we were in NE, we would immediately darken that 
doorstep. (I have a sister outside Lincoln, but I doubt she'd be 
interested.)

> One other thing, you will find that Clay, Adrienne, and others on this particular list have dedicated much time and personal sacrifice to try to make EAS a working system for everyone. In the last 6 months it has been as intense as I have ever seen with changes and proposed changes coming in almost monthly. Right now we are all waiting to see what the regulatory process kicks out and where that leaves all of us. Stay tuned! The information will be on this list well before most other venues.

You, Clay, Adrienne, and the others have the gratitude of many of us who 
recognize how important (and exhausting) the work you do is.

Mark