Dennis Thompson
I hope your 2016 has begun on a positive note. Currently my note is B♯. That’s always been a hard one to hit for me.
SJV EAS Committee (L-R) Ken Holden, SBE66; Brett Covish, Univision; Mike Aurand, KMJ/Peak Communications; David Whitehead, Farmers Network; Kevin Lynott, NWS.
A committee was formed to review and updatethe Emergency Alert System (EAS) Communications Operations Orders (COO) for the San Joaquin Valley Local Area. The last revision was made in April of 2010 to add the California Highway Patrol Law Enforcement Warning into the EAS activation policy as well as changes to the EAS codes. The current update addresses the change of the LP1 station to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Hanford, California (from KMJ-AM) and the LP2 station to KMJ-AM in Fresno (from KFSN-TV). The update also adds the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) to the must carry event codes. Outdated or incorrect names and phone numbers are also being corrected. The updated COO will be sent to the FCC for approval and coordinated with the States OES.
In other news the NAB has joined the podcaster world, offering up a bi-weekly series of podcasts on topics considered timely for broadcasters. The 15 minute podcasts will be free for all to listen for two weeks, then go behind the NAB paywall.
The FCC Open Meeting for January is happening as this goes to press: The Commission will consider a Report and Order which modernizes the public inspection file rules by requiring cable and satellite TV operators and broadcast and satellite radio companies to post public inspection files on the FCC’s online database.
And the Commission will consider an NPRM to strengthen the Emergency Alert System by promoting participation on the state and local levels, supporting greater testing and awareness of EAS, leveraging technological advances, and bolstering EAS security. Stay tuned.
Thursday the 28th will be the SBE66 hosted Italian dinner/meeting/officer elections at Luna’s restaurant in Clovis. It begins at 7PM and I hope to see you there.
