[EAS] Improvements from past national tests

[Sean Donelan]

10 years for national tests have resulted in some improvements, i.e. there 
is an 80% chance an EAN might actually work (and be understandable) now.

1. Test reporting has improved from all types of EAS participants
    a. Just fill out the damn form, there seems to be fewer participants 
trying to avoid filing
    b. FCC has made bulk reporting easier, but could still use some 
improvement
    c. Stupid deadlines are stupid.  Deadlines are neccessary, otherwise 
people procrastinate, but if the FCC's not going to do anything with a
form for 3 months, why a same-day deadline?

2. Primary Entry Point stations expansion to cover 90% of U.S. population 
(under optimal receiption conditions)
     a. add two-way satellite network between FEMA and all PEP stations
     b. correct audio bridge to prevent feedback during EAN
     c. almost every nation-wide test since 2011 has shown improvement

3. Formal acceptance of satellite "PEP" distribution channels for EAN 
distribution (covers all lower 48-states)
     a. NPR squawk (weekly tests), Premiere Networks (unknown), SiriusXM 
(occasional tests)
     b. mismatched audio-levels for EAN/NPT and normal audio

4. Added "000000" All-US FIPS location code, instead of Washington DC, for 
EAN distribution
      a. unresolved if 000000 is limited to EAN or PEP or something else
      b. unresolved missing U.S. territories in Part 11 FIPS list
      c. unresolved some EAS manufacturers have out-of-date FIPS lists 
(Census and NWS changes)

5. Commercial Mobile Alert System (now known as Wireless Emergency Alerts) 
standards approved and implemented.
       a. Nationwide wireless providers and "dozens" of regional providers 
participate, covering 99% of wireless subscribers (not geographic area)
       b. U.S. Wireless Emergency Alerts are compatible with global 
wireless alerting standards, i.e. tourist's phones also receive alerts
       c. WEA 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 changes depend on handset manufacturers and 
consumer replacement cycles, only 18% of handsets currently process 
geo-fenced alerts

6. Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) implemented with 
increasing usage by 1,500 local alerting authorities.
        a. IPAWS operations have become routine, with 24/7/365 availability 
expected
        b. Requires more care & maintenance, updating certificates & 
software, checking logs, network troubleshooting

7. All 50 states, the District of Columbia and 3 out of 4 U.S. territories 
have EAS plans
         a. not all state plans are updated (or from this century), or have 
active SECCs; but someone from the FCC is nudging now
         b. Monitoring assignments and mapbooks need re-thinking

8. IPAWS alerts distributed through new technologies including internet, 
social media, digital signs, etc.