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CHANGE is COMING

CHANGE is COMING. In 2009, FEMA is will overhaul the EAS system… How will it affect your station?!?! Kirk Chestnut, Entercom Kansas City Aaron Read, WEOS – Public Radio for the Finger Lakes. A n d w e ’ r e n o t t a l k i n g a b o u t v o t i n g !. What is EAS?.

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CHANGE is COMING

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  1. CHANGEis COMING In 2009, FEMA is will overhaul the EAS system… How will it affect your station?!?! Kirk Chestnut, Entercom Kansas City Aaron Read, WEOS – Public Radio for the Finger Lakes A n d w e ’ r e n o t t a l k i n g a b o u t v o t i n g !

  2. What is EAS? • EAS = Emergency Alert System • Nationwide system to distribute emergency information across radio & TV stations and cable TV • Presidential activations • Also used for state & local alerts • AMBER, civil emergencies, weather alerts, etc • Replaced the old EBS network in 1997. See also : http://www.askcbi.org/?p=119 http://www.hallikainen.com/FccRules/2008/73/

  3. What is EAS? • Required Weekly / Monthly Tests • “This is a test of the emergency alert system” • “Duck farts” / “Data burps” modem sounds • Most states have a relay system • White House > State LP’s > Local Stations. • Gov/State Police > State LP’s > Local Stations. • All local stations “monitor” at least two sources: • Everyone has two Local Primary stations (for KC radio: KCSP 610AM and KCMO 94.9FM) • Optional: NOAA WeatherRadio, NPR Squawk Channel, State systems (satellite, internet, etc). See also : http://www.askcbi.org/?p=119 http://www.hallikainen.com/FccRules/2008/73/

  4. Do I have EAS? • It’s required by law, so I sure hope so! (47 CFR 11.xxx) • All stations must have an EAS encoder/decoder wired into their airchain. • LPFM stations can be decode-only. • The point is: in a nationwide emergency, the President can broadcast a message on every single radio/TV station in the country. • This has never been done. See also : http://www.askcbi.org/?p=119 http://www.hallikainen.com/FccRules/2008/73/

  5. EAS Requirements • All stations must receive a RWT from their two monitored stations each week. • Must also separately, SEND a RWT of their own. • All stations must receive & forward (send) a RMT each month. • No RWT needed on a RMT week. • All stations must LOG every EAS action – received or sent – in the official Station Log (47 CFR 73.1800 & 73.1820 • Must have copy of your State’s EAS Plan See also : http://www.askcbi.org/?p=119 http://www.hallikainen.com/FccRules/2008/73/

  6. Station Log • Station Log must be reviewed each week by the official Chief Operator (73.1870) • If no errors are found, CO must sign & date it. • If errors, detail the error and what the fix is (or why it’s not fixed yet) • First thing an FCC inspector asks to see is your Station Log! See also : http://www.askcbi.org/?p=119 http://www.hallikainen.com/FccRules/2008/73/

  7. EAS - limitations • EAS has limited data capacity (the modem “data burps”) that have not been utilized. • Only NATIONAL EAS events (and RWT/RMT’s) are required. • State, local, weather, etc are all optional • “Relay” nature of alerts is very inefficient, prone to error, and slow. See also : http://www.askcbi.org/?p=119 http://www.hallikainen.com/FccRules/2008/73/

  8. EAS and CAP 1.1 • CAP = Common Alerting Protocol • Standard of IPAWS = Integrated Public Alert and Warning System. Grew out of 2000 NSTC report: “Effective Disaster Warnings” • XML-based, very flexible. • Part of a general overhaul to the EAS system to force greater efficiency & grant greater access at the state level. See also : http://www.askcbi.org/?p=119 http://www.hallikainen.com/FccRules/2008/73/

  9. FEMA deadline – EEK!! • FEMA has announced they plan to make adoption of CAP 1.1 official in Q1 of 2009. • Means all stations must have CAP-compliant EAS gear installed and working within 180 days • Hideously unrealistic (2-3 years is more likely) but FEMA has repeatedly said they will enforce that 180 day timeframe. See also : http://www.askcbi.org/?p=119 http://www.hallikainen.com/FccRules/2008/73/

  10. Unfunded Mandate • Like the EBS > EAS upgrade in 1997, this is an unfunded Federal mandate. • Cost is likely to be somewhere between $2500 and $5000 just for equipment. • Budget high – you may have to pay to have someone to install the new gear, and train your show. These people will be in high demand throughout 2009. • START PLANNING NOW!!! See also : http://www.askcbi.org/?p=119 http://www.hallikainen.com/FccRules/2008/73/

  11. Equipment? • Standard not adopted, so no gear yet. • Sage DigitalENDEC “closest to ready” but only available for pre-order. • Only 4 or 5 OEM’s that make this stuff. • Capacity to make new En/Dec’s for all 11,000+ radio stations within 180 days does not exist – hence the deadline questions. See also : http://www.askcbi.org/?p=119 http://www.hallikainen.com/FccRules/2008/73/

  12. Participation – BIG CHANGE!!! • New standard gives states the power to mandate participation state/local alerts. • HUGE change from status quo – you will have to pay a LOT more attention to your State Plan! • Get friendly with your local SBE Chapter to stay informed! (www.sbe.org) • Be ready for politics / frivolous alerts! See also : http://www.askcbi.org/?p=119 http://www.hallikainen.com/FccRules/2008/73/

  13. Plea for action! • Whether it’s fair or not, this is going to happen and very likely happen in 2009. • You can’t ignore it – the Dep’t Homeland Security is pushing this, so the FCC is likely to enforce it. • Likelihood of inspections is creeping up! • Must start planning now – avoid rush later! See also : http://www.askcbi.org/?p=119 http://www.hallikainen.com/FccRules/2008/73/

  14. Questions • Tell us your situation, we’ll advise as best we can! • Aaron Read can both be reached via the CBI listserv. • Sign up at www.askcbi.org • Aaron’s blog : www.friedbagels.com/blog • These slides available at : www.friedbagels.com/cbi/ See also : http://www.askcbi.org/?p=119 http://www.hallikainen.com/FccRules/2008/73/

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