Me R189, User Manual

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2.4. Your responsibility as a broadcaster
Your One-Net Encoder/Decoder allows your facility to decode EAS alerts originated
from alert sources in your area. The sources are local radio stations. These stations
can be forwarding alerts received from a web of broadcasters, or originating alerts if
designated as a primary source. To meet minimum requirements of the FCC, you
must send randomized weekly tests, forward monthly tests, and forward National
alerts. Your state and local EAS plan may also impose other requirements.
A good source of information is the EAS website at http://www.fcc.gov/eb/eas/ . The
FCC provides handbooks in Adobe PDF format for AM and FM radio, for TV and for
Cable TV.
2.5. Future of EAS and One-Net
As of this printing (Summer 2005), the current EAS system has been in place for
about ten years. While little has changed in the core EAS system in that time, an
explosion of digital technology has occurred, especially in communications and with
the enormous evolution of the Internet. New methods of emergency management and
alerting are being built to take advantage of the digital mediums. But the EAS system
will be in place for at least several more years. The new digital technologies do not
replace the EAS system; they augment the system. The EAS system provides an
important level of redundant backup, using reliable radio broadcast, with
communication coverage for more of the United States than any other medium.
The EAS system is also evolving, with significant improvements in process.
Currently the One-Net supports both DVS-168 for DNCS (SA) and the new DVS 644
(SCTE-18) Digital EAS Message for Cable, including multicasting. Future bridges
between EAS systems and the new digital alerting and emergency management
systems will be possible with Monroe’s new digital LAN based EAS encoder/decoder
technology.
The One-Net provides a powerful and yet economical LAN based
digital platform for this bridge to the future of EAS .