[EAS] new legislative activity on EAS/WEA

[Sean Donelan]

The South Korean alert system makes all emergency alerts mandatory, 
especially on cell phones.  You can't turn off alerts on your phone. Its 
awful, and seems to get abused by officials for trivial matters multiple 
times a week. While tourists tend to freak out, South Koreans seem to 
ignore the alert sound now and don't even look at their phones when it 
goes off.

In the US, ask your cable system operator co-participants about how local 
municipalities used (abused) the mandatory cable franchise overrides. 
Almost every cable executive I asked about implementing EAS, said whatever 
you do, don't sign a franchise agreement with a mandatory cable franchise 
override. They had suggestions for improving cable EAS. But were 
universally negative about mandatory cable franchise overrides.

Social science and psychology research studies say people are more 
satisfied when they have some level of control and feel they can change 
their choices. For example, snooze buttons on alarm clocks. Consumer 
marketing has found people are more likely to buy something, when given a 
"choice" instead of only a single option.

That's why I included a consumer "dismiss" or "exit" button on IPTV 
emergency alerts.