[EAS] Sirius/XM EAS Activity

[Sean Donelan]

The SECC (State Emergency Communications Committee) for your state would 
be able to help you with the EAS distribution plan for your state.

NPWS (formerly known as PEP) is only for Presidential and other national 
messages.  Satellite-based NPWS (NPR sqauwk, SIRIUSXM, and Premiere) carry 
Presidential and national messages.  Direct-to-Home (DISHTV and DIRECTV) 
and most satellite-fed FM translators are PN stations in the FCC rules, 
but only carry national messages because participation in local EAS plans 
is optional.

IPAWS via Internet and PBS WARN is for CAP messages (not Presidential) from 
national, state and local authorities.  The IPAWS feed contains messages 
from all parts of the nation. While all EAS participants must have an 
internet IPAWS connection, none have a PBS WARN connection.  Local boxes 
use filters to identify relevant messages for local broadcast.

EAS via LP and SP sources (the EAS audio squawks) is for Presidential 
(NPWS), regional (SP) and local (LP) legacy and NWS local messages.  LP 
and SP sources provide the over-the-air backup, fondly called the 
"daisy-chain") for the Presidential message if national telecommunication 
channels are disrupted (i.e. "the very bad day.")

Because EAS interrupts normal programming, the SECC with LP and SP 
stations help coordinate with local and state authorities how EAS is used 
for local and state emergencies.  NPWS/PEP stations have equipment 
directly controlled by FEMA for Presidential and national messages.

NWS is compatible with EAS but operates with its own rules.  FCC, FEMA and 
NWS are suppose to coordinate with each other about EAS, IPAWS and WEA. 
The NWS warning meteorologist are usually good about coordinating with 
SECCs, but occasionally their mission differs (much wailing and gnashing 
of teeth).

There are a few other specialized alert sources in the background (NORAD, 
USGS, CBNR) with their own rules.  Congress has authorized the 
Administrator of FEMA to issue national alerts, not Presidential messages, 
such as missle alerts. But as far as I know, FEMA has yet to issue rules 
or proceedures how this authority would be used.

Put them all together with lots and lots of duct tape, and you get an 
alert and warning system.  No single part does everything.

On Sun, 16 Jul 2023, Dave Dunsmoor wrote:
> I've not studied this to any real depth of understanding, so I'm 
> unclear on how XM distribution of EAS messages can be useful for 
> anything other than "the nukes are coming over the north pole". How can 
> this method possibly be helpful regarding local emergency situations 
> without annoying the remainder of the country?
>
> Help?