[EAS] Whole New Etc.

[Bill Ruck]

First, you should read Richard Rudman's "We Need a Unified Warning 
Strategy Now" at https://www.thebdr.net/articles/fcc/eas/EASOpinion.pdf

With all deference to Mr. Rudman I would change the title to "We 
Needed a Unified Warning Strategy Many Years Ago".

Following up on my posting and various comments.  First, I've been 
accused of many things, some of them accurately, but this is the 
first time I've been called "Utopian".

Most of what is necessary exists.  The problem is nobody is really in 
charge and there are too many silos, especially at the Federal 
level.  When I am made Emperor For Life there will be changes to 
that.  I'd make ONE agency responsible for all public warning 
throughout the U.S.   Maybe FEMA, maybe the Army Corps of Engineers, 
maybe DoD, maybe a new agency.

The key for that agency to make it work is what I called the "Magic 
Box".  It does all of the hard work automatically.

For example, the NWS has divided the county into polygons.  The Magic 
Box then takes those polygons and overlays them in each of the 
distribution channels.  It looks up radio and TV coverage areas and 
decides which stations fit that polygon.  Cell service providers 
already have location information and the Magic Box translates NWS 
polygons into their hardware.  Local telephones have the 911 data 
base that correlates numbers to locations.  The Magic Box decides 
which locations are in which polygon.  ISP's know exactly where the 
DSL or cable or fiber is terminated and the Magic Box sorts that 
information into NWS polygons.  It's a little harder for WISP's 
because those users move but they need to be able to translate 911 
VoIP calls so that information can be sorted.  Any new distribution 
channel just needs the appropriate interface software to the Magic Box.

This is all done in advance and kept current.  So when the NWS 
activates any polygon or combinations of polygons the Magic Box 
instantly knows what to do.

On other levels it is the same thing.  State boundaries are precisely 
known.  The Magic Box translates "statewide" into every known 
distribution channel.  A state can divide itself up into as many 
different parts as desired and provides that information to the Magic Box.

Counties are smaller and their boundaries are precisely known.  The 
Magic Box develops a translation of "countywide" into every known 
distribution channel.  A county can also divide itself up into as 
many different parts and that information is provided to the Magic Box.

Cities are even smaller and their boundaries are precisely 
known.  The Magic Box develops a translation of "citywide" into every 
known distribution channel.  If a city wants to split itself into 
smaller areas like city blocks again that information is provided to 
the Magic Box.

Any other origination nagency does the same thing.  Examples might be 
reservations, military bases, National Parks, etc.

Any potential origination source can then enter a warning to as 
precise an area as it desires.  This isn't done on the fly, it is 
organized in advance.

I see this as nothing more than a very big database.  It needs 
management on a continuous basis as the originating agencies may 
desire changes and distribution channels may change but once set up 
it should be stable.

The obvious problem is who is going to take charge of this and how 
will it be paid for.  Also, who is going to pay for the continuing 
training of every origination staff member?  As Emperor For Life I'd 
make Congress write the legislation and fund the program.   Or else . 
. .  After all, I will be Emperor For Life.

So why can't this be done now?

Comment.  In U.S. Navy boot camp I learned the difference between a 
"reason" and an "excuse".  Being kinda thick it took more than one 
instance of my Company Commander screaming into my face "That's an 
excuse.  Now give me the reason" before I recognized the 
difference.  Hint: In that environment there is no "reason", just 
"excuses".  So far all I have heard about why this can't be done 
falls into the category of "excuse".

Bill Ruck
Curmudgeon
San Francisco