July
12, 2006
Present:
Terry Spring-KWPX TV; Ken Dahl-Amateur
Radio; Eric Ortiz-Click! Network;
Bill Goodwin-Click! Network;
Clay Freinwald-Entercom; Steve
Houser-FCC; Jim Tharp-Entercom;
Don Miller-WSEMD; Mark Allen-WSAB;
Roland Robinson-Bates Technical
College; Beau Stenkamp Stramer-Bates;
Dana Davis-Bates; Adam Martin-Bates;
Cary Jones-NWS Spokane (phone);
Bob Wyatt-KSPS Spokane (phone);
Dave Holloran-San Juan County
EMD (phone); Peter O'Connell-KING
TV (phone); Dan Good-Emergency
Services (phone); Ed Webster-KBCB
Bellingham (phone); Art Blum-KONA
Tri cities (phone)
Introductions were made.
The meeting with Idaho that was
scheduled for Spokane is off. The
Idaho people moved it to Boise.
Don Miller will see if it can be
salvaged.
The
President of the United States
has issued an executive order
calling for the upgrade of the
EAS system. According to an Associated
Press article, he wants to reach
as many people as possible using
cell phones, pagers, or anything
else that can receive a text
message, in addition to the mass
media. PBS and FEMA are partnering
to develop and test a system.
The Department of Homeland Security
is developing a system using
the Common Alert Protocol (CAP)
that will use PBS distribution.
It will have a GUI where the message
information is entered. The DEAS
system will originate and transmit
CAP messages, with associated audio,
plus video and file attachments
(graphics, maps, pdfs, etc…).
The CAP message will be accompanied
by audio and much more. Then the
information will be converted to
CAP and the text will be converted
to voice for distribution. It is
not known yet exactly what interface
the feds will use. CAP is the key
to the whole thing. The GUI can
be accessed anywhere via the internet
with log in.
FEMA is now the Office of Domestic
Preparedness.
Don Miller's IP based system is
in the final testing stage. He
would like to put units in about
35 stations. The advantages are
clear audio over the internet,
as opposed to the two way radio
systems that are used now. Also,
there is a text output that allows
for more detailed information.
The text can be sent to a language
converter so the audio could be
outputted in a different language.
The stations that receive this
will be selected by coverage and
willingness to use it. It will
also go to National Weather Service
offices. Don will put something
on the remailer. This is the next
step. The EAS system is now 10
years old, and technology has marched
forward. The counties will still
be able to originate. They will
be able to log into the state's
system. This is not a new system.
It has been in development for
years. It won't prevent test SNAFU's
from happening, but it will make
them less likely. Don will put
something on the remailer.
Auburn now has Lehar evacuation
signs. They are also setting up
a reverse 911 system. Residents
can sign up using various methods.
The 911 center will distribute
emergency information to people
who have signed up. See http://www.ci.auburn.wa.us/ .
The Washington State Tsunami warning
sirens are currently triggered
by NOAA weather radio. This is
a one way system. Don is working
toward upgrading them to a satellite
based control system that is two
way. This will allow the state
to monitor them and be able to
tell if they are actually activated.
They will also be able to be activated
locally. Eventually all the sirens
in Washington will be upgraded.
Recently, there have been two
false EAS activations in California.
They were caused by a series of
mistakes and screw-ups. See
http://earthsignals.com/add_CGC/Accidental_EAS.htm,
http://earthsignals.com/add_CGC/Letters/EAS_Incident_JD.htm,
http://www.bext.com/_CGC/2006/cgc749.htm,
and
http://tinyurl.com/n5zym.
The new Tab 8, Non-Weather Related
EAS Event Codes Descriptions, was
approved and has been distributed
on the remailer and will soon be
on the WSAB web site. See http://www.wsab.org/eas/eas.html
Audio quality on EAS messages
was discussed. There will be no
big improvement until the new IP-based
system is in place. Broadcasters
are urged to check the audio quality
of the sources they monitor and
to upgrade their receivers and/or
antennas if necessary.
There has been no progress on
the project to get the North Sound
EAS originators into the Central
Sound area. It will likely be scrubbed
as the new IP-based system will
make it un-necessary.
The test schedule was changed
so WSEM could test equipment. Problems
that were uncovered during the
testing are being fixed. We are
now reverting back to the original
schedule. The local area chairs
need to have their local originators
test their equipment before they
attempt to originate an RMT. This
would go a long way in avoiding
some of the bad tests that we have
been experiencing.
The question was asked, If the
civilian authorities cannot issue
an emergency alert, should broadcasters
pick up the slack? It would not
be a good idea to rely on the broadcasters
because a lot of them do not have
the trained personnel, if they
are staffed at all. Some boxes
may not be programmed to relay
alerts from broadcasters. Clay
will be researching whether the
LP's can change the originator
code. But what if everything else
is down? Would having broadcasters
originate be better than nothing?
Clay would like the discussion
to continue on the remailer.
The tabs, and other EAS information
on the WSAB web site, is done by
volunteers when they have time
available. It will get done as
soon as possible when time is available.
We, the SECC, always need for
more people to be involved. Call
or email Clay any time at (206)
726-7071 or cfreinwald@entercom.com.
You can attend meeting by phone
from the comfort of your home or
office. Directions are published
before each meeting on the remailer.
In Central Washington, the Mid
Columbia area now has a copy of
their local plan.
In the North Sound, Ed Webster
is the new local chair, replacing
the departed John Franz.
The National Weather Service is
testing the new Blaine weather
radio station this week. It is
on 162.525. The yearly Tsunami
test will be moving to late March
starting in 2007. This year it
is on September 13 at 10:45 AM.
At the WSAB, Mark Allen will be
at the National Amber Alert Conference
in Albuquerque next week. When
he was in Evansville recently,
Mark observed the EAS system being
used often during severe weather.
He plans on having the state plan
tabs in pdf format on the WSAB
web site soon.
The FCC reminds broadcasters that,
when they are doing an inspection,
they check on the two monitor sources
that each station is assigned in
the state plan.
The testing committee plans on
having next year's testing schedule
available for the next meeting.
The next meeting will be Wednesday,
September 13 at 9:30 AM at Camp
Murray.
Terry W. Spring
Chief Engineer
KWPX TV33 Seattle
