[EAS] The way is sounded

[Richard_Rudman]

Sean/All:

Since I was the LECC Chair when EAS was started in Los Angeles in 1997 I want to outline the thinking the LECC and the market went through that went into having the Sheriff (yes, this is an elected position) voice the EAS tests, and the evolution of the audio delivery of LA County EAS to EAS Participants. Chapter 2.68 of the Los Angeles County Code puts the Sheriff in the position of being in the lead during declared County emergencies.

I wrote the original LA County EAS script that is still being used. Going back to the LECC and market discussions, we felt having the RMT's voiced by the person who would be the likely voice of the EAS in LA County during declared emergencies made sense. So, the goal of the test script I wrote and that was approved by the market was to tell audiences what to expect, and who to expect it from.

No one until today on this list has ever questioned that decision. 

Getting back to the issue of audio quality, the LA County Sheriffs local relay system that was set up well before EAS was and is accomplished using the only government licensed channel available, low band VHF on 39.48 mHz.

Two LP1's are identified in the LA County LECC Plan: KFI and KNX and were set up with 39.48 mHz receivers. All LA County EAS Participants have the option under the Plan to install their own 39.48 mHz. receivers so they can get EAS tests directly from the 39.48 system. I did just that when I was at KFWB. To date, efforts to identify a better part of the electromagnetic spectrum (VHF or UHF) for the local relay network have been unsuccessful. 

The good news is that In the last two years LA Sheriffs Communications has made available an audio over IP system for the two LA County LP stations, as well as a part of Los Angeles County unable to receive 39.48 mHz directly.

Over the years the LA Sheriffs Communications techs have done their best with resources available to improve the audio quality on that system. While the IPAWS messaging brings higher EAS audio quality, I hope LA County will retain and continue to improve the non-IP relay system in place because, if we know anything, we know the Internet is not 24/7 reliable, especially under emergency conditions.

Richard Rudman
Vice Chair, California EAS SECC
Advisor, LA County LECC

> On Sep 29, 2016, at 12:57 PM, Sean Donelan <sean at donelan.com> wrote:
> 
> Having heard Los Angeles' monthly tests nationwide because a particular 
> satellite TV provider uses LA as the source of its monthly tests, I 
> understand your complaint. After hearing LA's monthly test, I think 
> elected officials should not be allowed to voice monthly test messages; 
> and only allowed to voice actual alerts.