[EAS] No Internet?

[Sean Donelan]

On Tue, 25 Feb 2020, Clay Freinwald wrote:
> One of the reasons why the WA-State SECC continues to insist that we
> maintain and routinely test our Analog/Wireless back up systems.
> The Internet is wonderful and powerful - However it can represent a classic
> SPOF.

Everything fails eventually.  Nothing is magic.

Backup power (batteries & generators), satellites (landlines & 
terrestrial), towers (secondary towers & distribution), local studios 
(remote studios), and so on.  No single technology works in every 
situation.

Even in the classic over-the-air EAS distribution, try to not assign both 
LP-1 and LP-2 to the same organization in the same distribution area.

Use a mix of distribution systems and technologies.  I get the 
business management school types want to "optimize" redundancies, i.e. 
eliminate, because it saves money.

The reality is backups cost money.  Not all states have an organization 
like the WA EMD willing to pay to maintain and donate the use of their 
analog/wireless network.  Even if the marginal cost is minimal, there are 
lots of inter-organizational hurdles.