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

Suzanne GoucherMaine Association of BroadcastersMarch 10, 2011

Maine’s current relay networks

MEMA/MDPS

NWSFO

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.

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.

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

Our wish list

Redundancy Redundancy Redundancy Reliability Security Ease of use

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)

Direct Options:

Internet Satellite Landline telephone (POTS) Microwave State police radio network

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)

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)

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?