[EAS] The 2017 EAS Handbook for LP-1's

[Clay Freinwald]

Just to add a bit of perspective to all of this - 

In Washington State - 

> We have a RMT Test Coordinator that works with all parties to produce an
RMT Schedule for the whole state.   This is usually released each November.

> This Test Schedule is distributed via the State EAS Remailer as well as
being posted on the State EAS Web Site and by other groups that elect to use
it.

>  All tests in this state are originated by a government entity as they are
they ones that initiate actual alerts.   This process rotates between the
State EOC as well as EOC's (or other selected entities within the
Operational area) NWS initiates the RMT Annually from all 4 of their
forecast offices.

> No Broadcast Station (LP or otherwise)  initiates any RMT (or actual
alert)  in this state for the simple reason that they  cannot be forced to
do so, may change format, program director, manager or ownership tomorrow.
The only functions that an LP can be counted on to perform are those that
are described in their monitoring assignments.    We consider ALL broadcast
stations to be operating un-attended.

Hope you find this interesting and helpful

Clay Freinwald
WaState SECC Chair

-----Original Message-----
From: EAS [mailto:eas-bounces at radiolists.net] On Behalf Of Kenyon, Alfred

Paul, 

Here's what the Virginia State EAS Plan has to say about RMTs:

Each Local Area Emergency Communications Committee, along with the local
area chairman, should coordinate, and publish a Required Monthly Test (RMT)
schedule for that local area considering the programming needs of all
Broadcast, TV, and Cable operations in their local area. This schedule
should adhere to FCC Part 11 Rules and Regulations with regard to times of
broadcast. The committee should publish this schedule each calendar year in
an effort to coordinate the RMT with the programming needs of all concerned.

Each Local Area in Virginia will be responsible for conducting the RMT,
originating from the LP station in that Local Area. All broadcast stations
and subject cable systems should retransmit the RMT exactly as it is
received.

Since you are listed as the Local Area Chair for Eastern Virginia what you
say agrees perfectly well with the State Plan.

This is a good illustration of why the CSRIC EAS Handbook Working Group had
to leave the LP-1's involvement with RMTs pretty vague. 

YMMV but you might consider changing the last of your three sentences to
read: " Other RMTs are locally generated according to the Virginia State EAS
Plan and are log-only."

I appreciate your interest in and support of EAS.

Regards,

AL KENYON
IPAWS Customer Support Branch Chief
IPAWS Program Office, Continuity Communications Division National Continuity
Programs Department of Homeland Security - FEMA
500 C Street, SW, 5NW-0407
Washington, DC 20472-3153
202-646-3308 Office
202-538-4471 Cell
540-504-2389 eFax
Alfred.Kenyon at fema.dhs.gov

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