[EAS] "improving" EAS?

[Gary Timm]

The article quoted below is INCORRECT. This proposed false alert reporting is NOT part of the Order.  It is instead a PROPOSED rule in the second section of the adopted document, the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM).

So if you oppose this proposal, please be sure to FILE COMMENTS once that window opens.  The FCC is required to base its decision on received Comments, so your time spent filing Comments DOES have an impact.

Gary Timm
WI SECC

From: "tpt at sevenrangesradio.com" <tpt at sevenrangesradio.com>

A brand new reason why stations may choose not to relay most EAS messages is being considered by Congress.  From an Inside Radio article this morning:

"The most significant move is designed to correct some of the flaws in the system exposed by the false_missile_alert in Hawaii earlier this year. The FCC adopted an order that gives any EAS participant including any radio and TV stations up to 24-hours to report to the FCC's operation center after it's discovered they transmitted or sent a false alert to the public. It's an idea that has been circulating inside the Commission for years and broadcasters have long resisted mandatory reporting, saying such incidents are rare and fearing it could help the agency punish stations. But in the wake of January's frightening wake-up call for Hawaiians, the FCC said that the potential erosion in the public's confidence required a second look. But the Commission concluded that the information would help the FCC keep tabs on any false alerts that are sent. "We believe such notifications will help inform the FCC and FEMA as aim to identify and solve problems with EAS," FCC chair Ajit Pai !
said."

So Sheriff Roscoe (more to the point--his deputy who kicks the computer with his feet) sends a civil emergency message at 2 AM--with no audio.  A: We are supposed to review the logs EVERY DAY including SUNDAYS to determine if there was a "false" message--then B: have 24 hours to report to Commissar Folkes that we relayed this false message, under some threat of penalty if we fail to do so.

And Clay and Richard wonder why a lot of us hate EAS. Stupid box gonna be re-programmed to ignore everything except tests and the end of the world.

__________________________________________________________
The EAS Forum Discussion List is hosted by the BWWG (Broadcast Warning Working Group). The Core members of the BWWG are Adrienne Abbott, Clay Freinwald, Suzanne Goucher, Barry Mishkind, David Ostmo, Darryl Parker, Richard Rudman, Gary Timm, and Sharon Tinsley. http://eas.radiolists.net
Please invite your friends to join our Forum! The sign up is at: https://lists.radiolists.net/mailman/listinfo/eas
___________________________________________________________