Theme One
Spatial Geographic Connection; geographic linking of stations within the chain of stations
The following are statements related to spatial connections; linking stations together and electronically hearing stations within the chain. These statements are derived from the compilation of responses that relate to the question 7 of the Media Security and Reliabiliy Survey. Question 7 asks respondents to consider: What are some problems with the system? (Media Security and Reliability Council 2003)

1. We need funds to establish additional audio links between requesting facilities and broadcast stations. Alabama

2. Station must monitor LP 1. That might be technically feasible and possible, however. They have had to get exceptions put in the plan. Alaska

3. The state is too big and there are areas that cannot hear any station except for them and therefore have nothing to monitor. Cable systems don't pick up area stations. Arizona

4. Biggest problem with EAS is the quality distribution of the audio. It is
worst in cable because it is at the bottom of the food chain. There are still some areas with the Eastern Area of California monitoring California stations. They have to monitor Nevada stations because of there terrain.
They can't hear who they are assigned to in this part of the state. California

5. Needs to be instantaneous rather than delayed -- within half an hour. Tornado will be back in the sky by then. Some of the stations can't listen to the LP one. The terrain in Colorado is an issue to deal with. Colorado

6. Better, more secure pathway to primary stations needs development. District of Columbia

7. LP1/2 stations are not reliably receivable by all stations and systems in certain Local Areas, Occasionally undependable primary electricity at certain LP studios or transmitters adversely affects EAS Activations. There are occasional reports of poor/no reception (not sure why PEP stations can be heard on car radios in stations' parking lots but not on their indoor EAS monitoring receivers) Indiana

8. Difficulty in establishing a second path, mostly the "last mile" issue. The state system can deliver 2 channels of audio anywhere in the state but only to local POP (Point of Presence) from the POP to the local stations is either a dry pair or radio link. Iowa

9. The biggest problem was the fact that there was no way to reliably get the PEP station. Kansas

10. Biggest Problem is related to the terrain. We are not able to successfully complete the network because stations cannot pick up other stations. Kentucky

11. Delivery and failures in the "Daisy Chain" Louisiana

12. In some isolated instances, stations can't receive signal. They use the secondary network of FM stations that they can monitor. Maine

13. The "daisy-chain" process of relaying EAS messages puts too many weak links in the system. Any EAS message that is not properly captured by a station will be rejected/not digitally recorded in EAS decoder/encoder and therefore not relayed further. There is concern that one or more stations relaying EAS messages in the state do not have emergency power further adding to the unreliability providing EAS messages out to some parts of the state. Maryland

14. Some feel that it takes too long to propagate across the State if the relays are slow to forward. They would like a state radio link. Massachusetts

15. There are no PEP stations in our state. This is a major problem. The coverage from out of state is not robust. Connecticut

16. System is only based on old analog technology. As broadcasters and cable switch to a digital service, EAS is not easily deployed in this environment. Digitally implementing EAS has not been defined technically (nor required?). Minnesota

17. Problems in some areas for stations to listen to their assigned station.
Mississippi

27. The big problem with the system to date has been the reliance on the FM relay system for statewide alerts. It simply was not workable. Missouri

28. I do not believe that except in a relatively few local communities the EAS system works in the state. Part of it is the mere fact that it is an outdated, antiquated system that relies on a daisy-chain. In this state the system relies on very long links and that passes over mountains or as Senator Burns is fond of saying "there's a lot of dirt between light bulbs in Montana." We are also a state that is bisected by the Continental Divide, which is a lot more than a geographic barrier. Montana

29. Our biggest problems have been developing a way for our extreme rural areas to receive reliable signals for monitoring. The state of Nevada is still developing a state-wide microwave relay system. We are every bit as spread-out as Texas here and about a tenth the population. In addition to our mountainous terrain--Nevada means "snow-covered"--our population centers are at the extreme southern end--Las Vegas, the north--Reno, and the East--Elko. We are currently working with the state to tap into the microwave system to allow transmission of PEP activations throughout the state. Currently, the state can monitor PEP stations in both Reno and Las Vegas. There are PEP stations outside the Reno and Las Vegas areas. Nevada

30. The microwave system is fraught with difficulties. New Hampshire

31. We are in need of a replacement distribution system, as the State is wanting to shut down some of the two-way systems. North Carolina

32. Relay of state wide messages and tests. North Dakota

33. Reliability of reception of over-the-air monitoring assignments. Ohio

34. Another problem is Cable Television companies owned by national organizations. Companies such as Comcast and Charter Cable, tend to do things their own way and treat EAS as an inconvenience and a legal requirement only. I can state a few examples. They ignore local plans. If a head end is in one operational area and the customers are in another, then the local customers only get messages from where the head end is located. They will not interrupt the audio of the premium channels. Instead, they run a scroll across the screen to tell their customers to tune to another channel to hear what the emergencies are about. Oregon

35. Extremely poor audio quality. Pennsylvania

36. Relaying messages through the system. It would work much better is we had some other form of communication that would bypass the "over the air" relay system. South Carolina

37. Lack of full time satellite audio channel interconnects to all LP1s and LP2s. Tennessee's geography does not allow for statewide broadcast relay. Even the RMT has difficulty getting set off and falling within the satellite window for dissemination. No official "civil authority" or help from TEMA. Tennessee

38. A major problem with the Texas system is the lack of a reliable means for transmission of alerts and tests on a statewide basis. The State of Texas has not taken responsibility to ensure that the messages are transmitted to all local primary stations reliably via satellite or phone. Because of the size of the state, transmission is not guaranteed through the daisy chain network of local primaries, even with the additional use of the Texas State Networks network of affiliates. Texas

39. At times the phone pairs that go to the stations fail. Vermont

40. Technical problems of system and broadcasters equipment. Virginia

2. Problem with the way the regulations are written. No way to get rid of warnings on television signals when they are relayed to different parts of state. Lot of information for people who do not need it. Alaska

3. Quartzite, and eastern mountain communities) Also lack of cooperation on the part of many broadcasters. It took the FCC's help to call on some broadcasters to get forced cooperation. Also with consolidation, sometimes LP-1 and LP-2 in the same facility and no other station in the small markets willing to accept responsibility. Arizona

4. They are reviewing the plans and applying for a grant to get new
transmitters etc. California

5. EAS is a complicated system that doesn't work. The simpler the better. Colorado

6. Getting the cable systems to attend meetings regularly and get more involved in the plan going forward. EAS is not strongly established in cable's management culture in this state. Connecticut

7. Sage EAS system is difficult to use during area emergency. Complicated
LCD/Menu system is difficult to learn. Infrequent use results in staff members unable to remember how to use. Detailed memos with step-by-step instructions are still mind boggling to follow because of the Sage menu system. System also works on premise that everyone is listening to the radio or watching TV and, therefore, will hear the emergency notice. Delaware

8. Our problems have been mostly concerning the change in LP-1 and LP-2 station assignments due to station changes in ownerships, personnel, studios, etc., and in educating station staff and management about the EAS system. Florida

9. In the beginning there was too much activation by NWS and some
misunderstanding of code setting by broadcast stations. Hawaii

10. Errors in testing of system. Idaho

11. Our state committee is alive but funding for travel to meet in Springfield would be helpful. We are working to get our state plan on the Chapter 26 SBE web site. Our state EAS plan is out of date. We had a state governor situation that changed January 2003. We need to get in queue as we are changing political parties for the first time in more that 20 years and the new Governor faces a budget debt of $5- billion. The Federal government, do to funding limitations, has done a poor job of supporting EAS. It is the President's system (with its roots in the President Truman era - CONELRAD) and yet the White House has not taken any recent interest in EAS since President Clinton signed the last statement of requirements in 1995. We could die in place waiting on the Federal component to come to our aid. The broadcast industry has invested more than $120-million in EAS equipment. That investment should be made to work to protect the public in the best and most efficient manner possible. Illinois

12. Two of the twelve LP1 stations in Indiana relinquished their duties, and
broadcasters in those areas have been unable to fill the vacancies, even with
assistance from State and Federal Agencies. Stations and Cable systems aren't getting current or updated Local and State EAS Plans because the FCC has stopped their publication and distribution to appropriate stations, systems, and authorized officials. Uncertainty of station/system managements participation in State or Local EAS Activations, esp. with those operating unattended. Indiana

13. Planning is not complete. Getting some managers and Engineers to take it seriously. Iowa

14. EAS only works if people are watching TV or listening to the radio! EAS needs to be through NOAA weather radio so that people actually hear the alerts. Kansas

15. Where do I begin.......? stupidity, false test, lack of training new people, things like commercials inadvertently included in the RMTs from the State Originating FM etc. not to mention equipment failures in the "Daisy Chain".... with all of this causing the Broadcaster to be reluctant to participate. There has even been some ego "Exclusive Amber station pretenses" PSA's (public service announcements) broadcast, which has made other Broadcasters angry. But I am the "whipping" post as they say and do what I can to take the licks... There are other problems, but "turf" wars, the worst in whatever flavor you could imagine exist in Louisiana. One silly battle was with the Amber Plan in that they wanted no adjoining states to be able to activate the Louisiana Statewide Amber Alert System, which in my opinion is practicing political isolationism. Easy for a committee of egos to forget the reason for the Plan! The Justice Department has fallen short with State "Glue" and "universal Plan" in the Federal Amber Alert System. They need to be more than a state sampling and interviewing system and should get to work and mandate the important issues which are important in saving lives! They could develop a "Homeland Security Alert System Plan" or whatever you want to call it...bottom line is that All states need to be on the same page. We are still the UNITED States aren't we? Louisiana

16. Mostly with the weather service over utilizing the system. Fear is that people get used to it and ignore it. It is not just for anyone to use as the best way to get out a message. They don't understand that it is a voluntary system at the state level. Maine

17. There is no means to activate unattended or satellite program fed stations, only manned stations. There is concern that one or more stations relaying EAS messages in Maryland do not have emergency power further adding to the unreliability providing EAS messages out to some parts of the state. There is no easy method by which a State or local Emergency Operations Center can document/verify in real time if a station has made an EAS activation to a given request. Maryland

18. Funding For 25 years, EAS was a purely volunteer activity. The Michigan Association of Broadcasters provided some support for printing and postage. Things dramatically changed in 2002, when the MAB hired\created a new Director of Technology position, and included EAS as a part of this person's duties. Although this did not solve all funding concerns, it began to assign EAS to a priority, not a volunteer duty. Michigan

19. Funding. Funding. Funding..... Currently all non-federal EAS alerting is voluntary, this is a matter that continues to distress the credibility of the entire EAS. Volunteers on all committees. It is getting very hard to find dedicated people to participate with system implementation. System is only based on old analog technology. Minnesota

20. Turnover of personnel and the change of ownership of stations has been a problem. New owners, manager, word doesn't get passed about the responsibility that a station has assumed. This is the biggest problem.
Some are very conscious of their responsibilities and some are not.
Also, problems with generators in the North Mississippi area. Need money to
provide to LP-1 stations in this area. Mississippi

21. Further, there were some problems with getting the various state agencies we needed to help us on board. Previously, SEMA (state Emergency Mgmt.) was the only agency that did anything with EAS and that was built on an attack scenario for the most part. They did the best they could, but were limited in resources to help. The Governor has jumped on the bandwagon now, so there is a lot of help---What we need now, as do all the states, is the money to put the entire plan in place. There is pending legislation in the state house to establish the Alert Missouri plan by law ( now it is by executive order), but I don't see any money being set aside specifically for it. The budget is really tight now, so I expect we will have to make it work with what we've got.-- And it can do a pretty good job with the resources already in place. Another problem is getting all stations to participate in the system beyond what is required by law. Some do not see the need for the system and others feel the EAS equipment is so cumbersome in use that it slows them down in getting critical information on the air. I think the first group may be convinced if the statewide plan works well. The second group has a valid concern. Missouri

22. False and uncalled for alerts or no alert. For example, the NWS issued a severe winter storm warning in NW Montana last September 4. The temperature was 83! The Billings Police tried to issue an alert for a six block area due to a chemical spill-instead it issued an alert for a six county area in Missoula. The local broadcasters purchased the hardware and offered to install it for the county emergency office. The county said that it would do the installation. As of today they have not only failed to install the hardware, they don't even know where it is. When I took this job a little more than two years ago I began touring stations across the state. One of the questions I always asked was about how the EAS system worked. Initially everyone said something like "We have no problem, but Joe across town always seems to miss the test / fails to relay the test etc." What I came to believe "we have no problem" means is that "we have never been fined for missing a test" and "Joe across town is everyone" I am convening an engineering summit this summer where we plan to bring in several folks who have "fixed" their EAS systems (at least they claim to) in hopes of finding a solution to the impasse that currently exists. Montana

23. We feel the Nebraska EAS system is about as good as can be expected for a state wide system which is un-funded and developed by unpaid volunteers! Nebraska

24. We are also in a constant education and training mode to be sure our law enforcement and public safety agencies are up to date with the role of EAS in their emergency plans. Nevada

25. State Police commitment and participation is questionable. As recently as January 2003 they "forgot" to send a scheduled RMT. New Hampshire

26. Biggest problems with the system: the occasional broadcaster whose equipment is not set up properly and the apathetic public officials who, there having been few to no emergencies to require use of the system, have not developed and implemented meaningful plans. Example: one county emergency manager called me one day on my cell phone while I was in a McDonalds Restaurant asking if he could initiate a Civil Emergency to evacuate a northern New Mexico town due to imminent forest fire danger. While the county emergency manager and I had met just several weeks prior to set up his county's emergency EAS use planning, he hadn't "gotten around to doing anything yet." Since then he has. And yes, KKOB(AM) issued a Civil Emergency EAS Alert and the town was safely evacuated. In order to provide a "work-around" for occasional failures in the "fan-out" one-station- monitors-another monitoring system, KKOB(AM) audio is carried on the New Mexico State Police microwave system statewide and is available at all State Police offices and other locations served by the New Mexico State Microwave System. The New Mexico Broadcasters Association is working directly with New Mexico broadcasters to increase the efficiency of the New Mexico EAS system. New Mexico

27. Since EAS is voluntary, it is hard to know when a station is participating, and when it chooses not to participate in any given event/activation.
New Jersey

28. Problem with unmanned facilities. Broadcasters aren't passing things along as they should. They are so unhappy that they are revamping the entire plan. Wanting to utilize the state radio network rather than broadcasters. Replaced EBS with another daisy-chain system. SEMO radio system will be used more often under the new state plan. Goal is to get a radio network to get message out because they are more often manned. Too many local areas. That way we can get people qualified to serve on the local committee. Expanded definition of "local" under the new plan. New York

29. The problems with the system is this a single question or a book? Here are the big problems as I see them. The system is entirely voluntary, which obviously presents problems. Voluntary from the point of who participates in broadcasting alerts, voluntary from those who are assigned to make the system work and voluntary from the point of who and/or when EAS should be used for communicating. There is no obvious funding for network infrastructure. Without funding the system is dependent on volunteers, there is that word again, to pass alerts in a relay fashion. That's a problem. The system design is for a quick early general warning, but many agencies wishing to participate want more. They want to relay more detail, whether it be AMBER or a civil emergency group. The equipment is complicated. Broadcast engineers have to be available to be certain that monthly tests go smoothly. It needs to be simpler to program, and simpler to assure the box works. There are no provisions for testing of individual codes. Did you program AMBER correctly? To find out, you must set off the alarm.
Finally, those who have emergency messages to share, rarely think and use the EAS system. It is a system required of Broadcasters and cable systems only, and is used by NWS after they have made use of their own radio system if they have time. Few other agencies think to use EAS, know where to go to use EAS and know how to effectively use EAS. Instead they do what has been done for years, and contact the media directly or have the media contact them. Most news agencies are hungry for news and jump to distribute warnings. Oklahoma

30. Problems are usually associated with budgets. Rural counties cannot afford to purchase an EAS encoder and links to a primary station.
Companies such as Comcast and Charter Cable, tend to do things their own way and treat EAS as an inconvenience and a legal requirement only. I can state a few examples. They ignore local plans. If a head end is in one operational area and the customers are in another, then the local customers only get messages from where the head end is located. They will not interrupt the audio of the premium channels. Instead, they run a scroll across the screen to tell their customers to tune to another channel to hear what the emergencies are about. They refuse to enter into agreements with their "Must Carry" television local stations so that cable customers viewing local television stations will get repeated messages, as television carries their own and the cable companies carry their own. So they get their programming interrupted twice every month during Monthly Tests. Oregon

31. Lack of funding to complete the Secondary back-up EAS audio link to all LP-1 facilities. Pennsylvania

31. Need for more city and county Emergency Management department to have encoding equipment, but due to the costs they are not being purchased. South Dakota

32. No official "civil authority" or help from TEMA. Tennessee

33. The State of Texas has not taken responsibility to ensure that the messages are transmitted to all local primary stations reliably via satellite or phone. Additionally, some EAS regions have been plagued by problems with local cable systems. In some cases local cable operators have overridden live news coverage by TV stations on their systems with outdated EAS alerts. It occurs despite the fact that the Texas State EAS Plan specifically forbids such overrides. The execution of a state AMBER plan has also been plagued with problems. Instead of updating procedures set out in the Texas EAS Plan for contacting primary stations directly, the DPS/DEM decided to pass off Amber alerts to the San Antonio/New Braunfels Weather Station to broadcast and relay other stations in a particular region. As a "backup" a California web site is paid to disseminate e-mail messages to stations. Since broadcasters are not federally mandated to do so, many stations have yet to upgrade their EAS units with the new EAS event codes which include a new event code specifically for child abduction alerts, the CAE code. Texas

34. There needs to be a coordinated standard for EAS on DTV. The technology is certainly available in the DTV realm to restore this scheme, but not the money at this point. Fortunately, NOAA Weather Radio is available to most of the stations, although in the original plan, it was only assigned to the area LP1's. We're working through the mess at this time. Utah

35. Getting broadcasters to buy into the system as a real public service. Virginia

36. Presently the SRN operates on a rarely used State Patrol police frequency where conflicts are a potential. This would require capital funding for which we have no source. Washington State

37. Needing new equipment. West Virginia