[EAS] It's not rocket science...

[Sean Donelan]

On Sat, 23 Jul 2016, Clay Freinwald wrote:
> SD - I did a quick count of the 56 State EAS plans (50 states, DC, 5
> territories)
>
> CF - Curious - Where did you get your data?

In 2006, I was working getting EAS working for a telco IPTV deployment. 
I needed state EAS plans from each state IPTV was being deployed.  I 
attempted to contact the SECC representative in all those states (not all 
50 states, i.e. not Qwest or Verizon states).  In about 70% SECCs, it 
was easy contacting and getting the information from the SECC (usually 
through the state broadcast association or state emergency management 
agency).  The telco had an on-call representative in state EOCs for most 
disasters, so reaching state EMA's was quick.

But the remaining 30% of the states was a pain, and in two cases the EAS 
contact refused to release a copy of the "state" EAS plan.  I think we
finally got the information from another broadcaster in those states.

Earlier this year, I tried to get a copy of all 56 state, territory and 
district of columbia EAS plans in order to prepare my comments for the 
recent FCC NPRM.  It was easier this year, because 40 or so EAS state 
plans are available on-line.  There are still several states/territories 
that either don't have a EAS plan or refuse to release it.

I read all the plans I was able to get. Dispite the claims that "all 
disasters are local," most state EAS plans are remarkably similar. 
Washington State's plan is one of the rare outliers, with a different 
structure.

Although it would make sense for the state EMA to fund the SECC, as I 
said, that is rare. The FCC can't require states to fund or even 
participate in a SECC.  Only a few states formally fund or sponsor SECC 
activities in their state.  In a majority of states, the state broadcast 
association or an informal industry group or person supports the SECC 
activities.  The FCC can regulate industry participants, so the rules
are written as if the SECC is a industry activity.

To keep costs low, it makes sense for the SECC to be associated with
the state broadcast association to support various secretariat/legal 
duties.  Broadcasters make up most of EAS participants.  But some state 
broadcast associations have trouble supporting non-members.

As of April, 2016:

15480	AM/FM Radio
1433	Low Power FM Radio
1782	Digital TV
2227	Low Power/Class A TV
5208	Cable systems
2	Direct-to-home Broadcast Satellite
1	Satellite Digital Audio Radio Systems
0	Multi-point Distribution Service
500	Wireline/Telco (estimate, does not require a separate license)
367	Miscellaneous/growth/expansion (round-up)
27000	Total number of EAS regulatory participants