[sbe-eas] FCC says: CAP-in, SAME-out

[Ed Czarnecki]

We'd need some additional specifications from FEMA regarding the audio
stream format.  However, these specifications probably are not even on the
board yet (??), as FEMA is not yet intending to issue an EAN message via CAP
distribution in the immediate future, as far as I know.  

If FEMA did, however, decide to begin disseminating EAN via CAP (i.e. in CAP
parallel to the conventional EAS broadcast from PEP stations), it could in
principal be handled via the roughly same basic approach as the ECIG
implementation guidelines.  At the conclusion of the audio stream, the EOM
signal could be automatically generated in the CAP EAS device when the audio
stream ends.  

This is how it works with the recorded MP3 audio format - when the audio
file ends, the CAP EAS device creates the EOM tones.

Again, the major exception that the audio streaming format for the unlimited
voice message has not yet been defined.   While ECIG defined the  CAP
<mimeType> for the two minute recorded file as .mp3 , we deferred definition
of the CAP <mimeType> for the audio stream format until we had the
opportunity for future coordination with DHS FEMA.   

But, again, since FEMA is intending the EAN to relay on the conventional
PEP-EAS broadcast system, such standards recommendations via ECIG and/or
CSRIC may not be necessary just yet.


Edward Czarnecki, Ph.D.
Senior Director - Strategy, Development & Regulatory Affairs
Monroe Electronics, Inc. / Digital Alert Systems
ed.czarnecki at monroe-electronics.com
www.monroe-electronics.com
www.digitalalertsystems. com




-----Original Message-----
From: sbe-eas-bounces at sbe.org [mailto:sbe-eas-bounces at sbe.org] On Behalf Of
Sean Donelan
Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2012 1:40 AM
To: SBE EAS Exchange - a mail list for discussion about the Emergency Alert
System and other emergency communication issues.
Subject: Re: [sbe-eas] FCC says: CAP-in, SAME-out

On Sat, 28 Jan 2012, James Gorman wrote:

> If EAN is sent over the internet I don't see any provision for EOM in 

> CAP 1.2.


CAP audio streams don't include any of the EAS data tones (header, attention
signal, and EOM).  All the EAS data tones are locally generated by the
CAP-EAS device.  Each streaming audio protocol has either an end of stream
flag, closes the connection or times-out.  Same way your web browser "knows"
the end of a web page or YouTube video.  After the end of the audio stream
is received, the CAP-EAS box adds the EOM data tones when forwarding the
message using the EAS protocol.

News directors could instead decide to use the audio and CAP information
without the EAS protocol, as part of a breaking news story.  Many stations
already do that with weather warnings from the NOAA weather wire.

That's the general case.  There are a lot of details and interoperability
issues that can happen.  I don't know how specifically an EAN would be
handled with CAP.  CAP has lots of options, and a URI could be almost
anything.

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