[EAS] EAN redux - FEMA

[Dave Kline]

I think one important component to this discussion is that it helps those of us in the trenches to be prepared if the unlikely, but not impossible occurred AND, what to do if station management (who typically don't follow our discussions here) were to come to us and inquire as to what could be done.

The possibilities of a rogue EAN, in light of the events of the past week are being given serious consideration by our management. They are interested in options, should something occur and I am trying to educate, myself as well as address their concerns. Also because of the calls for protests at state capitals, our management also raised concerns about security of broadcast infrastructure.

I don't believe that anyone in this group would intentionally interfere with an EAN that originated from a legitimate source. But waiting until something did happen before trying to figure out what to do about it isn't how I see this group rolling. We are here to discuss the deeper aspects of what we do, both as engineers and broadcasters.

How many more of us are now better informed about problems inherent in literally pulling the plug out of the wall on our EAS box, than we were two days ago?

It's the ones who don't follow these types of discussions that should be the focus of concern.

Those who are in a position to educate, inform, and affect on local, regional and state levels should be communicating with the station's for their respective jurisdictions.

On Wed, Jan 13, 2021 at 11:44 AM Rod Zeigler <rzeigler at krvn.com> wrote:
>Maybe I missed something, but why would any reasonable broadcaster even
>consider aborting an EAN?
>EAN's are the "Sacred Cow" of EAS and the reason EAS exists in the first
>place. They must be run without delay or censoring and every licensee
>agreed to that when they accepted their broadcast license.
>If it is suspected that it is a "fake" alert, you have to let it run and
>then report your suspicions afterwards. The determination of EAN
>legitimacy is for pay grades much higher than any of ours.
>If it is for personal or political reasons I would consider that a
>justification to challenge the license of the station at renewal time.
>It would also expose the licensee to serious regulatory action by the
>Commission.
>There are things I will mess with, and things I won't. Alerts originated
>by any Federal entity fall into the latter category.

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

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Dave Kline - Solder Jockey
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If you only have two ducks, they will always all be in a row.
-me