[EAS] WEA used in NYC bombings

[John Willkie]

Let's disabuse ourselves of false notions before they become embedded.

1.  NYC Police did not direct people to or from "broadcast" sources in this quite effective use of an emergency alerting system.  They referred people to media.  If a radio station was covering the reports in real time, somehow, I doubt that Mjr. Armstrong's radio (or digital) had the ability to do anything more than repeat an unfamiliar name. Note that they were referred to media for picture.  The lack of an ability to transmit photos with the alert isn't the fault of the NYPD or FBI. 

2.  Last time I checked, web sites were considered media.  I even believe that it is quite common for radio stations to have web sites.  Way too "busy" web sites.  I also understand that web sites have the capability to show photographs and even video.  I wonder what the latency is from a radio station web site acquiring the photo to being able to post it on the radio station's web site?  Can it be done within a day?  Will viewers be able to see the important photo in the web site clutter?

3.  Let's don't party like it's 1999 anymore.  There is this capability called email, and SMS.  I understand that both can carry photos.  I also understand that radio stations acquire lists of listener telephone numbers and even email addresses.  Unfortunately, if these are only used for prize validation,etc by the promo department, it would probably take weeks for the radio station to realize that they could send out the photo (moments after the WEA alert) to folks on their email lists.  Surely, some of the prize trolls in Lithuania would get the alert, since the tools don't exist to geo-fence sms and email yet.  Imagine if a broadcast station maintained and promoted an email/sms list for such alerts? 

4.  I also understand that it's not uncommon for even automated radio stations to have a twitter account.  Sometimes, the social media manager might be the only employee on duty.  Imagine if this person sent the photo out via twitter and then promoted on-air and even in sms (since not all folks have graphics in their sms) where to go for the photo.

5.   Once again, as someone with a smartphone with an FM radio (AM is basically useless in a smartphone due to interference), unless the radio is on, its worthless for real-time alerts.  Even then, if it informed me of the name, just like everybody else, I would do a search in the browser for the photo.

6.  It made ZERO sense here to send out any CAE or other EAS message via text or voice in this case, because few people knew the guy in the wider universe of alerts.  (Great marketing for the NYPD, though!) A name isn't anywhere near as helpful as a license plate number and a description of a car.  What would one expect people to do?  Ask everybody they encounter what their name is?  Or, would only males with certain apparent colorations and characteristics be asked for their name? 

7.  In NYC and most other places, "on the run bomber" would certainly get attention and is of public concern, no?  I can imagine places where convenience store robberies are reported in the news.  If a radio station wants to occupy listener's time with every or any robbery, that might be noise and it might be a public service.  Certainly, dead folk lying in a convenience store is news.  Is trying to assist law enforcement in jailing a killer something admirable to do?  Note that the "mandatory requirements in a voluntary system" probably shouldn't apply here, but then, news is optional in radio. 

8.    What decreases the efficiency of EAS for alerts in large part is the voluntary nature of the system and the mandatorily aired tests and the balky processes.  Who got fired for not setting a calendar entry to renew the mission-critical certificate in the recent botched test?  Or did they get promoted?  Tests that are broadcast are largely "security theater" that were appropriate when audio consoles and transmitters were hand-made.  In the WEA world, I received one test several years ago.  Good, I know it works, and more importantly, since TCP/IP is employed, my carrier knows it got to my device.

It is important to note that it doesn't appear that the alert was involved in catching the alleged perp.  Compare and contrast what the NYPD (of the 5 counties) did here to get out important information after they couldn't find the guy, in part because he was sleeping in a doorway.  It will be interesting to know if he got into the doorway after he received the message.  And, that's the important point.  This guy appears to have been caught because he used a burner phone to set off the bombs and used the same phone to call family members.  the message was just as important for him to know about as the general public.  And, he received the message, not on WINS or on Al-Jazeera, but on the thing in his pocket that is never turned off.

Best;

John Willkie