[EAS] Cable Override

[Sean Donelan]

On Fri, 30 Sep 2016, Richard Rudman wrote:
> On further thought, I think the salient point here may really be that 
> many cable systems only do blanket override and cannot do selective 
> override with their current technology.

Its a combination of technical, business and liability issues.

Now that broadcasters are also multi-channel distributers with multiple HD 
channels on radio and multiple subchannels on Digital TV, they also need 
to deal with who is reponsible for EAS on which programming channel.

If I'm listening to an AM news radio station bring rebroadcast on HD-2 of 
a FM station, must the FM station activates EAS in the middle of the AM 
programmer's breaking news?  Or must the AM programmer activate EAS on its 
HD-2 programming channel?

It gets even more complicated with long-distance translator stations, 
which don't carry local EAS alerts on remote cable systems.  Should 
translator stations be required to have their own EAS equipment for local 
alerts?  Currently they don't.

There are lots of oxen that could be gored. (sacred cows?)

The FCC has traditionally punted on local emergency alerts, and 
concentrated mostly on national/presidential messages.  For a presidential 
message, cable override, translator stations, multi-channel programming 
doesn't matter; because they will all be carrying the same presidential 
message.

If the FCC wants to open up pandora's box, it should examine the entire 
local alerting challenge

    - Selective cable override, both targeted franchise, i.e. serving a 
small town, university or military base; as well as large regional, 
multi-state operators.
    - All types of multi-channel providers, cable, hybrid-digital radio, 
digital tv, satellite, etc.
    - Remote-fed and satellite translator stations carrying local EAS 
alerts