[EAS] Improving IPAWS and EAS

[Sean Donelan]

This Amber alert will expire, so the URL will stop working in a few hours.

https://www.google.org/publicalerts/alert?aid=9aecb4e29d8b16da&hl=en

This is Google's presentation of a CAP/NCMEC Amber Alert message.  IPAWS 
could also include the XML information, and EAS boxes could create 
graphics for TV including the maps, photographs, text and audio 
information.

Why doesn't EAS look, sound and work better?

Money, money, money: Pick two.

Of course, during business hours, most news stations want their own staff 
to prepare the broadcast package.  During unstaffed hours, more advanced 
automation could automaticaly prepare and broadcast standard 
alert packages.

If history is a guide, less than 50% of broadcast and cable systems in 
the area will re-broadcast non-mandatory EAS messages.  News stations and 
non-commercial/educational stations seem to be the most likely to cover 
the alert as part of continuing coverage or re-broadcast an EAS 
message.

Interesting quirk, the Russia funded radio station in Washington, DC 
has nearly perfect (100%) compliance with EAS tests and alerts.