[EAS] ETRS issues

[Dave Turnmire]

I didn't have any trouble with ETRS this year.  But then again, I 
already had the requisite user account and had done this before.  I 
received a call from a broadcaster that had "inherited" the ETRS Form 1 
filing task.  He indicated he had been trying unsuccessfully for a 
couple weeks to file.  He didn't have a CORES account so I figured I'd 
start there.  He was at the same FCC web page I was at on my computer 
and the actions he described seemed to be fine, but he said he kept 
getting a generic error message... as in totally non-descriptive of the 
problem ("Error occurred in the FCC User Registration System".  I 
suggested he try a different browser to see if that was the issue.  No 
such luck.

Out of desperation, he provided his info to me and asked that I try 
creating his account.  Which I attempted to... only to get the unhelpful 
error message.  So neither browsers nor the ISP appeared to be involved 
as a factor.  Seems like CORES registration is simply broken.  He had 
been trying to get assistance via phone from the FCC w/o success.  So I 
gave him an email address from my notes (CORESHelpDesk at fcc.gov). I just 
checked back with him today and he still hasn't made progress.  He says 
all he gets is form letters in response to his email queries.   Phone 
calls reportedly reach people who indicate they are understaffed and 
can't help.

On the other hand... normally systemic ETRS issues generate a lot of 
posts here.  Which I haven't seen.  Yet... I just tried creating a CORES 
account for him again... 8 days later... still get "Error occurred in 
the FCC User Registration System".

Hard to imagine the FCC would allow registration for CORES to be broken 
this long.  And I had no issues when I was dealing with ARS some time 
ago and getting SECC members signed up on CORES.  Anyone else hearing of 
such issues?

Dave