A Sunday Freeper's Observation:When In Times Of Emergency

E.G.C.

[E.G.C.]

Earlier this morning, it was reported on the news wires that Great Britian was in the process of declaring a state of emergency. The premise for this was the events of 9/11 have put the lives of the people of that country at great risk and that they wanted to get this passed through the parliment to check up on those foreigners visiting the country to see if might have any ties to Bin Laden.

I wasn't sure if what I'm about to say falls in the same line with this story, but for the last several years I've been doing some research on an item know as the "Emergency Alert System." This system replaced the Emergency Broadcast System in 1997 which replaced CONELRAD back in 1962. Fox News did a story a couple of weeks ago on it. It was actully suggested during an interview on "Fox & Friends" by one of the hosts of that show that perhaps the goverment might want to use the EAS to alert the public of terrorists and security threats.

The way the EAS works on the national level is this. What it does is provide the President with a means for communicating with the public on short notice during periods of national crises or major emergency to provide reassurance and direction regarding response and recovery. The President must be able to address the Nation on radio, TV and CATV within 10 minutes following an activation notice. In addition, the President must be able to address the nation on live TV (audio & video), upon arrival at the designated TV studio. this capabillity must exist under a variety of conditions.

Now, under FCC rules and regulations broadcast stations(AM, FM, & TV) must have a black EAS box in operation attached to their transmitter in order to keep their FCC licenses. These black boxes are designed to automatically break into programming on these stations when they receive the event code for what is known as an "Emergency Action Notification." When that message is received, that means that the National EAS has been activated and what it does is it turns all of the broadcast stations and cable systems over to the federal goverment for high priority national programming. The authority to activate the national level EAS rests solely with the President of the United States.

So, in other words, when the National level EAS is activated it means that all your favorite programs including on my favorite, Fox News Channel get pre-empted for National EAS programming. Those broadcast stations and cable that do not want to participate in the National level EAS must sign off when it is activated. I would think that the most prudent use of the National EAS would be if our nation was in real imminent danger of something happening or if our national security was at such risk to the point where life and property could be lost. Now that's just my thought, of course. But, if you wanted to use the EAS for National, state or local emergency, I would think you'd only want to activate it for life-threatening situations.

[E.G.C.]

As I stated before, I have been doing some research on the EAS and if you like to find out more about it, all you have to do is go to http://www.fcc.gov. Click on topical search, then click on E. Scroll down to where it says Emergency Alert System, click those words and it will ge you the their EAS web site. As I stated eariler, Fox News did a story on it a couple of weeks ago. It's a great program when it's used for life-threatening situations
Regards.

[Balding_Eagle]

Why wasn't it used when the planes were headed towards WTC?

The Pentagon?

Flight 93?

Just pointing out that the Government is not likely able to protect us in the current war. It's up to us.

[E.G.C.]

Good point. BTW, here is the FCC's EAS website.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT for more replies.

[E.G.C.]

We're talking about a nationwide life saving public service program. Remmeber, a National activation of the EAS gives programming control of broadcast stations and cable systems over to the federal goverment. Any ideas?

[E.G.C.]

BTTT in light of ongoing events in Iraq and the possibility albeit slight the the E.A.S. might end up being activated for a National Emergency.
Link to FCC's EAS website included in this thread.