[EAS] [sbe-eas] FW: IPAWS Tip: Use Weekly Tests to Ensure IPAWS Production Success

[Dave Turnmire]

On 4/5/2018 8:55 AM, Mike McCarthy wrote:
> We manually log the usual weekly and monthly tests on the Station Log
> document. Then attach the print out of everything else. This has passed
> ABIP muster three series of inspections across four different inspectors
> despite my misgivings about not manually entering every test and
> activation.
Forgive the belated reply to this thread... The above is essentially 
what we have long done here.  It has been years since the FCC inspector 
came by (pre-CAP), but at the time, he expressed appreciation for the 
form that we used.  All of the legally required EAS alerts (RWTs, RMTs) 
were on the log with a signature indicating the Chief Operator had 
reviewed it.  As well as a note about any exceptions such as missing 
alerts (and why).

This "summary log" was attached to the print-out from the EAS decoder 
(of course, more detailed), but the inspector was really only interested 
in whether we were properly monitoring our monitoring assignments, 
transmitting an RWT each week, forwarding an RMT each month, and 
checking the log weekly.  All of that could be seen at a glance at our 
manually kept summary log.  Much easier than reading through the "ticker 
tape" from our ENDEC in those days. These days, the ticker tape is 
replaced by a printed copy of our DASDEC's log.

The inspector viewed our practice as going "above and beyond" the legal 
requirement, which he appreciated.  And... I have always viewed it as a 
good thing to have an inspector think we are being so diligent.  Given 
the number of rules there are (EAS and otherwise), someone who doesn't 
like you and is looking for an excuse to fine you is likely to find 
something.  If, on the other hand, he feels you are diligent and not 
trying to cover anything up... he may be inclined to overlook a minor 
transgression he finds elsewhere. Or... at the least... use their 
discretion to minimize any fine. All good things in my book.

Dave