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10 November 2011 EAS Test FAIL
To: <coldwarcomms[at]yahoogroups.com> > This was a worthwhile test. Now we know where the bugs are. The bugs will only mutate and reappear in different forms in the future. All a national test shows is performance at a point in time. The system among U.S. stations is not static. Equipment is moved periodically with studio upgrades, people change jobs leaving internal systems undocumented, equipment is not maintained at periodic intervals, etc. I think we're expecting too much from what will always be a non-cohesive system among thousands of individual station owners, each of whom place greater or lesser degrees of interest in EAS as time moves on. The way I see it, far too much emphasis is placed in the hands of broadcasters. Radio and TV is now facing declining listener/viewership as IP wireless-based technology marches forward. Notification to the public should be driven toward portable devices like cell/smart phones, with broadcasters remaining involved but the public should not have to depend on its fractured "system." In its present form it's a system in name only. The telco industry was one of the first to embrace standardization practices. Broadcasters have been dragged into standardization and they don't cope well. To me, the logical choice is to give the cell phone industry an opportunity to succeed. They have the wherewithal and resources to standardize on equipment, maintenance, procedures and know how to deliver reliably. While the cell industry does not have 100% penetration across America, the broadcasters' involvement can be used to fill the gaps. Paul, W9AC
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