[EAS] The way is sounded

[Clay Freinwald]

I can't help but make comment on those that have made critical remarks about
the fidelity of the audio on the recent NPT.   Allow me to explain - 

Here in Washington State we had been using 2-way radio quality audio for all
of our EAS messaging for years...and, of course, this was criticized by
many.    In fact some stations refused to air the messages because of the
way they sounded (seems to me a major station in WDC re-voiced all their EAS
messages for similar reasons).   These critical comments was one of the
primary drivers to come up with something that would 'sound better' to those
golden-ears out there so they would change their mind and allow our EAS
messages to get aired on their stations.

The solution we adopted was one that would end up being a pilot program for
what you all now know as FEMA/IPAWS.    That first system, hosted by
MyStateUSA (Now Alert Sense) became Washington States CAP delivery platform
and continues to be the primary means for State EAS message distribution
using attached mp3 audio files.

For many of you this may have been your first experience in hearing EAS
messages with something beyond Motorola 2-way radio quality.   Welcome to
our world.    Oh yes, we do keep all those old Analog systems running as
backups for the IP based stuff because, as you all know, there is a back-hoe
lurking out there just waiting to take down the system.

Clay Freinwald
WaState SECC