[EAS] 'improving' EAS

[tpt at sevenrangesradio.com]

A big problem is what can be called the "beltway vacuum."  Most of these clowns in Washington have no conception on how the real world works.  I mentioned that rule from a dozen years ago that came out of the diversity proceedings...the rule requiring a non-discrimination statement in advertising contracts.  That fall I pointed out that most small market stations don't used formal written contracts for sale of air time. Vague stares from the Commission staff folks.  NAB in Austin last fall--we sent our ops manager.  Peter Doyle announces the end of the main studio rule with some bogus statement that he was sure most stations would continue their local news efforts.  My ops manager politely told him he was nuts--even under the current main studio rule we had the only full time news director in our rated market of 15 commercial stations...didn't go over well-didn't comport with the "narrative."
 
So back to EAS. I still have 6 "Form Ones" to file--one commercial religious with an 80 year old owner, and 5 LPFM's.  If they received a "false EAS" message they would probably not even know it, or have anyone who would know how to file this report. I suspect whoever came up with this rule still thinks we have DJ's at stations 24 hours a day.
 
One of the stupider ideas with the ETRS system is that you need owner/attorney level access to do anything in ETRS.  Which also allows access to any other kind of filing one could do at the Commission. I would not be surprised to see any future "False EAS Report Transmission System" (FARTS for short) to have the same method of access.
 
-----Original Message-----
From: "Mike McCarthy" <towers at mre.com>

I'm referring to the FCC's (as well as the legislative and executive
branch's) current political party in control. They're collectively bent on
undoing any regulation "they" see as unnecessary regardless of the
consequences.

I'm not sure those in the ivory tower of the Portals will ever see the poo
that should be aimed at them for this.