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EAS and the CAP transition: the view from a small state

EAS and the CAP transition: the view from a small state. Suzanne Goucher Maine Association of Broadcasters March 10, 2011. Maine’s current relay networks. STATE PRIMARY:

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EAS and the CAP transition: the view from a small state

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  1. EAS and the CAP transition:the view from a small state Suzanne Goucher Maine Association of Broadcasters March 10, 2011

  2. Maine’s current relay networks STATE PRIMARY: Relays go from Emergency Management, Public Safety, or Weather Service to the Maine Public Radio Network via secure phone line. All stations and cable systems monitor MPRN stations over the air. NWSFO MEMA/MDPS

  3. Maine’s current relay networks ALTERNATE STATE PRIMARY NETWORK: An alternate network of FM stations, each of which monitors the next one down the chain. Low-Power FM trashed this network – the FCC dropped an LPFM station in Portland on top of the WTOS frequency at 105.1.

  4. Our guiding principles for CAP • We are designing a new system from zero • Let’s build in alternative receive devices (text, email) – Maine now has this system – but keep broadcasting at the center • Let’s design the ideal EAS system for Maine, without regard to cost • The money will come from wherever it is now

  5. Our wish list • Redundancy • Redundancy • Redundancy • Reliability • Security • Ease of use

  6. Our decision points • We want to connect to IPAWS, but… • We also want a self-contained system in case the internet goes down (which it will) • We want to avert the daisy chain and go point-to-multipoint if possible, with a daisy chain backup • We want redundant transmission pathways – at least two, preferably three • We want to add a new DPS entry point in Houlton (Maine DPS Augusta and MEMA are co-located)

  7. Direct Options: • Internet • Satellite • Landline telephone (POTS) • Microwave • State police radio network

  8. Indirect pathways: • DEAS: Origination point -> Maine Public TV digital TV subchannel -> EAS participants • Keep current radio-based State Primary (problem is, radio cannot carry the full CAP payload)

  9. Our decision points • What will the state adopt for equipment? • Multiple inputs (internet, satellite, radio, TV, ?) • Multiple outputs (one box serves 5-6-7-8 radio stations) • Time-staggered alerts for radio clusters • Governor must-carry? “By designation of authority” (no box in Governor’s office)

  10. Facing 9/30/11 • How will we get this all done in 6 months? • How will we pay for it? • How will we cover the ongoing costs? • How will we train our people on proper use of the system? • Should we push back the 9/30 deadline to ensure that we do this once, and do it right, rather than doing it fast and messing it up?

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