[EAS] Sage update coming in Sept.

[Sean Donelan]

On Thu, 18 Jul 2019, tpt at sevenrangesradio.com wrote:
> Following up on what Mike is talking about--$349 per box to get the 
> update.  Of course, for me, this will be just after paying $5K in 
> regulatory "fees" (A tax is a tax, of course, unless it's from Mr. 
> Fed.).
>
> The update is strictly due to changes with FEMA.  So if you don't buy 
> the update the box won't get CAP messages.  Of course, this means you 
> will still get the messages that really matter from NWS.

There is an age-old business custom of blaming the government when you 
want to raise prices.  Most of the "fees" on your telephone and cable 
bills, or when you buy a car at a dealership, are just hidden prices 
increases. They go to the company's revenue line, not the government.

I assume Sage just timed the business announcement to concide with the 
FEMA changes because it was convient.  DASDEC and Viavi have been charging 
software maintenance fees for a while, and haven't announced any special 
fees due to the FEMA changes.  I think Gorman-Relich is the last 
EAS manufacturer that hasn't charged a maintenance or upgrade fee.

Heck, 20-years ago one broadcast station sales person wanted to charge me 
an EEOC-compliance fee when I bought ads. The sales person said it was a 
government "required" fee to review the ads before broadcast.  I admire 
their hutzpah, but didn't pay the "fee" and didn't buy ads from that 
station.