[EAS] EAS protocol changes maintaining backwards/forwards compatibility

[Sean Donelan]

With the new NPRM, including the requested changes from FEMA, I was 
thinking how those changes could maintain backwards & forwards 
compatibility.

There are lots of things people would cleanup, if they could go back and 
time and re-design a protocol specification from scratch. But usually you 
need to support legacy gear or have a transition plan. Protocol 
compability is "more of a guideline than an actual rule" (Pirates of the 
Caribbean).

Making changes with the least amount of harm to existing upstream and 
downstream standards (not just EAS, but also WEA, cable headends & 
set-tops, U.S. weather radios, Canadian weather radios, etc).

But that's a lot of work, if the FCC is just going to ignore public 
comments (again).