[sbe-eas] Wrong People

[Ann Arnold]

On the Override Issue:

FCC rules permit, but do not require, cable companies to agree not to override broadcast stations on EAS and live news reports from emergencies.  It's up to the broadcaster and sometimes local officials to set  up such a deal.

Some cable companies included provisions in their license agreements with cities that allowed officials such as the mayor to post an announcement during emergencies.

During severe floods in San Antonio, Texas, the cable company overrode local broadcast stations that  had reporters live at the scene of flooded intersections where some drivers had been swept away and drowned.  The canned message substituted a written message from the mayor that said something like, "There's flooding in San Antonio today.  Stay home if  you can."

To make matters even worse the cable message froze TV screens and it was some time before their customers could actually see news reports from broadcast  stations.

Broadcasters appealed to the City Council and the cable company's license with the city  was changed to prevent such overrides.

In Texas with Frank Lucia's help we included provisions in our state plan requiring all local EAS plans to have language preventing cable overrides of stations with news coverage.

I believe the FCC may more receptive to a petition setting national rules against overriding live news reports since all the trouble with cable operators about the EAS test.

Ann Arnold, Texas EAS Coordinator and TAB President

-----Original Message-----
From: sbe-eas-bounces at sbe.org [mailto:sbe-eas-bounces at sbe.org] On Behalf Of sbe-eas at fetrow.org
Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2011 11:42 PM
To: sbe-eas at sbe.org
Subject: Re: [sbe-eas] Wrong People

You MUST do at least one.  There is no limit on how many you may run.

On Nov 9, 2011, at 10:00 AM, sbe-eas-request at sbe.org wrote:


> Message: 1

> Date: Tue, 8 Nov 2011 23:27:41 -0500

> From: Ryan McCauslin <mccauslinr at gmail.com>

> Subject: Re: [sbe-eas] Wrong People

>

> Can one do multiple tests during the week?? I thought only one was

> allowed?

>

> - Ryan McCauslin

>  mccauslinr at gmail.com

>

> On Tue, Nov 8, 2011 at 10:22 PM, <sbe-eas at fetrow.org> wrote:

>

>> My cable company, Comcast, does not cover local broadcast TV, only

>> the cable only networks, which does include WGN America.  I saw a

>> discussion about this several years ago and it appears the

>> broadcaster may ask the cable company to leave them alone.


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