[sbe-eas] Requests about EAS test information

[Aaron Read]

The logic would be that if you respond, and the response indicates any
deviation from what would be expected under the State EAS Plan, a complaint
could be filed.  If the FCC's Enforcement Bureau follows up on that
complaint** the first thing they'll do is ask to see your Station Log.  It
is beyond easy to screw up a Station Log since the FCC is so picky about
these things.   If there's any problems, now the EB is gonna start digging
and potentially** we're off to the races.

** The trick here is that the EB does not generally act on a complaint by a
single member of the public under any circumstances, and they (almost)
definitely won't if the person in question does not have standing.
Generally the bare minimum for standing is the complainer must live or work
(or can demonstrably prove a regular work commute through) inside the
station's service contour.   This would seem to block a lot of potential
complainants BUT there ARE some outfits out there that are both clever
bastards and quite determined, and they'll recruit people to file
complaints who DO have standing.

As Sean points out below, licensees are under zero obligation to share
their EAS records (as part of their Station Log) with anyone except an
accredited agent of the FCC.  There is precisely zero benefit in sharing
that info with the public, and while it's unlikely, there's nothing but
potential problems in sharing it with the public.  I wouldn't ever do it.

- Aaron


On Wed, May 29, 2024 at 2:38 PM Rob Dale <rdale at skywatch.org> wrote:

> Thanks - I didn't know the FCC would potentially penalize stations if a
> test wasn't run the exact second it was planned to. How much of an impact
> could that be?
>
> Rob
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* sbe-eas <sbe-eas-bounces at sbe.org> on behalf of Ben Overbaugh via
> sbe-eas <sbe-eas at sbe.org>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, May 29, 2024 2:36 PM
> *To:* SBE EAS Exchange - a mail list for discussion about the Emergency
> Alert System and other emergency communication issues. <sbe-eas at sbe.org>
> *Cc:* Ben Overbaugh <boverbaugh at rioradio.org>
> *Subject:* Re: [sbe-eas] Requests about EAS test information
>
> They could potentially verify if the test actually ran or not.  If it
> didn't run when the station said it did, they could file a complaint maybe?
>
> Ben Overbaugh, CBRE (He/Him)
> Chief Engineer
> KJZZ * KBAQ * Sun Sounds
> Office: 480-774-8412 <(480)774-8412>
>
>
> On Wed, May 29, 2024 at 11:15 AM Rob Dale <rdale at skywatch.org> wrote:
>
> Interesting - what could they do which could impact EAS and/or PBS by
> knowing the test time?
>
> Rob
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* sbe-eas <sbe-eas-bounces at sbe.org> on behalf of Aaron Read <
> readaaron at friedbagels.com>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, May 29, 2024 2:11 PM
> *To:* SBE EAS Exchange - a mail list for discussion about the Emergency
> Alert System and other emergency communication issues. <sbe-eas at sbe.org>
> *Subject:* Re: [sbe-eas] Requests about EAS test information
>
> That may be the case, but there is *also* a sizable community of people
> who are looking to make trouble for stations...especially folks of the
> right wing persuasion, politically, looking to make trouble for *public
> radio* stations...any way they can.
>
> I could see EAS being (somewhat) a preferred tactic because it's one of
> the few ways the FCC is known for cracking down very hard on licensees
> about.
>
> ____________________
> Aaron Read
> www.friedbagels.com
> 401-519-0230 office
>
>
> On Wed, May 29, 2024 at 1:36 PM Cameron Seaman <cameron at globaleas.org>
> wrote:
>
> I was forwarded this chain and have some insight to give.
>
> I can vouch and say that there is quite the sizable community surrounding
> EAS and some individuals do listen for alerts over stations half-way across
> the country through various means. It doesn't necessarily surprise me that
> someone from another state might be interested in this information.
>
> My best guess is that some stations might not have recorded test patterns,
> and some kid is curious to know about it.
>
>
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-- 
------------------------------------------
Aaron Read
readaaron at friedbagels.com
www.friedbagels.com
"Engineering: it's like math but LOUDER!"
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