[EAS] EAS Ignorance

[Sean Donelan]

Things may start out simple, but over time, everyone wants their special 
exception or waiver.  Individually each exceptions and waiversmay have a 
good reason, but in aggregate make the system unwiedly.

LPTV facilities are only required to have EAS decoders.  They may 
optionally install full encoders/decoders.

Just last week, I needed to ask several manufacturers how "decoder-only" 
operations worked.  Even the brand-new EAS Operating Handbook takes some 
shortcuts with some of the more obscure requirements for decoder-only 
facilities. And how manufacturers have actually built certified EAS 
decoder-only boxes.

I'm still not sure I fully understand all of the nuancies low-powered EAS 
stations could take advantage of.  The simple answer is low-powered 
stations can operate EAS just like EAS at full-powered stations, and I 
expect most will low-power EAS stations will use full encoder/decoders and 
follow the same procedures as full-power EAS stations.

For example, low-powered stations only need to read the RMT test script, 
however there is no similar exception for the NPT test script. In 
practice, its simplier for EAS decoder-only stations just to configure 
their EAS equipment to automatically relay full RMTs, as well as 
NPTs, and EANs instead of trying to use the "read the test script" 
exception.