[SBE] Fwd: NAB FM chip proposal

[Curt Yengst]

At the risk of sounding cruel and heartless.....
Do we really need a system that overrides every single communication device within five feet of a person to tell them there's an emergency?  Has it really gotten to the point where we have to send alert tones and offical messages to tell the average person TO GET IN OUT OF THE @#$%#@!! RAIN???

EAS is already the system radio people love to hate, and our listeners are right behind us.  I've got an idea!  Let's put it on everyone's cell phone!  I can hardly wait to hear the stream of profanity from my dad (dragged kicking and screaming into the 20th century) when his conversation is interrupted by a RWT.  (I'm exaggerating of course, but you get the drift...)

Here's my $0.02, and you probably have change coming....
After reading some of your responses, I get the feeling some of you might agree with me.  Let's not go back to the old CONELRAD, or EBS, or whatever system.  Let's go back to PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.  If we at the radio station have some urgent information, we'll get it on the air pronto.  If you're not paying attention, oh well!  It sucks to be you!  The military calls it "Situational Awareness."  Get some!

Here endeth the rant.  Thanks be to God.



-----Original Message-----
From: sbe-bounces at sbe.org on behalf of Richard Rudman
Sent: Tue 3/31/2009 5:31 PM
To: GRC GRC; EAS Committee SBE
Cc: Chris Imlay; Poray John
Subject: [SBE] Fwd: NAB FM chip proposal
 
Greetings from Washington:

NAB has launched a major initiative to mandate FM radio chips in all  
cellphones.

Attached is an Adobe Reader presentation given by NAB at the EAS  
Summit yesterday.

They are marketing this idea as an enhancement to EAS.  Obviously  
there are other benefits that would accrue to FM broadcasters. The EAS  
benefits may not be as clear cut as they think at this point.

Obviously NAB is looking for other industry entities to back their  
proposal. I recommend talking to NAB about this if the Board thinks  
the idea has SBE member benefits. One could say that anything that  
gets more radios in the hands of audience is a good thing for SBE  
members. I think SBE could make some constructive suggestions to NAB  
to make it more likely their proposal would have merit for emergency  
public information and EAS.

Here's my take on what they presented. Clay and Gary and Art were  
there and can chime in with their takes.

Advantages:
1. Users can tune to an FM station after getting a CMAS warning  
(coming to you cellphone no sooner than 2010-2012 by some accounts)
2. FM is added universally to cellphones as an option
3. FM/RDS can display warning messages
4. Value added for cell phone users
5. Cost to add the chip is low - some phones already have them

Disadvantages:
1. AM is left out in the cold
2. No recognition in existing cell FM chipsets for either SAME or CAP.
3. Not as many FM stations have news departments as AM stations and/or  
have prepared for severe emergency operations.
4. RDS data rate is only 1187.5 bit per second and has other uses now  
at RDS-capable stations.
5. Cellphone displays of RDS date would be restricted so EAS CAP  
messages would require a lot of scrolling to read.


FYI, the CTIA representative on the panel, Brian Joseph, Dir. of  
Public Affairs for CTIA,  was cool to the idea -- possibly icy.

Regards,

Richard

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