[EAS] A rogue EAN

[Rod Zeigler]

I feel I need to make some clarifications regarding some of the comments 
on this thread that pertain to our latest Nebraska State EAS Plan.

Why did it take years to come up with a working plan? Because the 
technology to meet the FCC requirements did not exist until quite 
recently. Some states have mountains, others have deserts, we have sand 
hills where there are few people and even fewer radio stations (but lots 
and lots of cows). I still have the map in my office showing all of the 
Nebraska LP's, their studios and transmitter sites. I worked on that for 
two years and determined that a daisy chain was iffy at best and would 
not work under duress. Once the availability and acceptance of satellite 
PEP's came into existence it allowed us to provide two independent, OTA, 
EAN sources (one being a robust SR provided by Nebraska Educational 
Telecommunications, and NPR affiliate). One of the plans I submitted 
relied on internet links, and the FCC will not allow that for EAN's. 
Once I submitted the plan with NPR Squawk, Premiere, and Sirius/XM, and 
no LP's, the plan was approved. I have to say at this time that only in 
the last 10-12 years did Nebraska have a PEP station. I will also say 
that no terrestrial PEP stations cover the Eastern half of Nebraska 
24-7. If a PEP station is not reliably receivable 24-7 it should not be 
used. We have the list of PEP's that have coverage in Nebraska in the 
plan only in case EAN's are being broadcast and the local PEP is not on 
the air. This gives options to the citizens of the State to get the 
information from another source.
This also points out a problem with PEP's. Daytime coverage is what has 
been used to determine coverage. Nighttime coverage does not seem to 
have been considered. Granted, if we are broadcasting EAN's we can go to 
Day pattern, assuming someone can make that change either remotely or 
locally. This gets into another can of worms that has been discussed at 
length in other venues and not germain to this discussion.

Also remember that EAN's will most probably only be used if 
infrastructure in an extended area is compromised.

As to a stipend or some kind of remuneration from the State to the SECC, 
there is none. At one time the State did supply us with some clerical 
services and website administration, but the contract the State had for 
that expired about a year and a half ago. In the last 6 months the 
Nebraska Broadcasters Assoc. has stepped up and undertaken the web 
administration and created a new website for us. It was sorely needed. 
One other thing is that Yes, the chairman had the privilege of paying 
for the web hosting themselves, Nebraska Broadcasters has taken that on 
as well.

Hopefully this will clear some things up.

-- 
R. V. Zeigler, Dir. of Eng.
Nebraska Rural Radio Assn.
KRVN AM & FM  KAMI
Chairman, Ne. SECC
Exec. Dir. NEBA
www.krvn.com