1/6/12

Site Security - West Virginia Starts 2012 With a Good Idea

We have often written here about the increased need to pay attention to site security. In recent years, the combination of reduced manpower which resulted in fewer visits to transmitter sites and rising copper prices has led to a persistent problem: theft of electrical and ground system copper and air conditioner coils.

Just this week, KPUL in Daytona Beach, FL was knocked off the air for about a day, caused by the theft of about 50 feet of copper. This was the third time the station was hit.

Stations are wise to increase security arrangements, from fences to cameras, to other surveillance methods. But the short time it takes to rip out part or all of a ground system makes it very hard to catch thieves. Utilities have major problems, as well, including the occasional burnt thief.

Worse, the relatively low value of the scrap - perhaps 50 pounds of copper will bring only a couple of hundred dollars - is usually a misdemeanor, causing law enforcement to not make it a major priority unless someone actually dies. 

True, many places now have laws where sellers of metals need to fill out forms and show ID, perhaps even leaving a fingerprint. But this actually causes more hassle to the honest metal dealers, and the money involved and the fines are relatively small enough that the bad guys pretty much continue as they have been. Of course, that does not even consider the cost of rebuilding a ground system.

A PARTIAL SOLUTION?

Of course, no single solution will solve all of this. But a West Virginia legislator has come up with a plan to try to discourage some of the thefts in the first place and not unnecessarily punish any of the small businesses that handle scrap metals.

With 40% of his state within 30 miles of a state border, it is even more complicated for West Virginia businesses, utilities, and cities to catch metal thieves before they are in another state. In the meantime, 911 services, EAS services, and emergency phone services can be disrupted just when most needed. In fact, in recent months, the Governor of West Virginia has had his phone service interrupted 11 times by metal thieves.

Therefore, Delegate Gary Howell, R-Mineral is to introduce a Bill this coming week that makes the theft of metals like copper from a city, utility, or broadcast facility a felony. And it is not the metal itself that is the focus: we spoke with Howell, he points out the "sabotaging an emergency service with the intent to steal" is the felony. His Bill would make the thieves liable for a 1-10 year prison sentence and up to $10,000 in fines.

Howell says "they don't have to succeed in actually carrying off the metal to be guilty of sabotaging 911 service or fiber optic cables or ground cables. Just by tearing up the infrastructure, the damage has been done."

WORTH A LOOK AND SUPPORT

The Broadcasters' Desktop Resource commends Delegate Howell and calls on all broadcasters in West Virigina to learn about and support his efforts.

Beyond that, it is certainly worth working with your state broadcast association to see how laws that might help reduce copper theft can be supported - as well as laws that deal with another issue of damage and liability: BASE jumpers. Usually prosecuted only as trespassers, BASE jumpers can not only be injured - as seen in the Washington DC area last month - but they can easily disturb or destroy antennas and feedlines, taking stations off the air. Heavier penalties than currently exist should be in place to try to reduce this problem as well.

The BDR will continue to highlight these issues and publicize efforts to combat the problems. We welcome your input about what works in your area, as well as tips about successful ways to secure and protect broadcast facilities.

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What do you think?

What to share your thoughts?  You are welcome - and invited - to do so.

12/30/11

Wrapping up on 2011

2011 is gone. There is no more worry about getting things done this year. Time now to put your 2012 plans into action.

Of course, as with any year, it is sometimes instructive to look back and see what lessons we learned - and what we need to change in the next year's operations.

WE'RE STILL HERE

No, Broadcasting has not gone the route of the buggy-whip or the hand-crank telephone - yet. We are still the one resource that people have when they need to find out what is happening - at least when the automation is not running.

Broadcasters have a unique opportunity to affect discussion of local needs and problems. They can reach people as no other medium can.  And the examples of how some stations like WEBO fought to stay on the air during emergencies like the floods this fall show how vital broadcasting is to a community. After all, when the power is off, there is no Internet! (Unfortunately, there were other stations with no generators - or with owners who "couldn't afford" to bring someone in during an emergency on a weekend.)

Moving into 2012, the industry has the opportunity to remind their communities why they are so important. Who knows? Maybe it might even help when the station needs some zoing assistance....

FCC

Some changes are in the air. Two new FCC Commissioners. A couple of new department heads. A lot of initiatives that sound good. Let us hope the FCC in 2012 finds the time and energy to help broadcasters do more than sell off spectrum.

CONSOLIDATION

Anyone hoping the push for consolidation would slow was disappointed. As Cumulus devoured Citadel (which in turn had gotten indigestion from eating ABC too fast), more jobs were lost.  And if that were not enough, we are seeing more and more live air  positions eliminated.

Whether or not you feel that during an economic recession as we have had that Job #1 is to reduce expenses, the result is that more and more studio clusters are vacant most all of the time. With Internet streaming and other options available, it does seem odd for many stations to cede local content to the streamers. And it is not exactly inspiring to see a few people making multi-million dollar bonuses, while thousands have their radio career abruptly killed.

EAS

As anyone who has been awake knows, 2011 was the year of the first National EAN test in the history of the Emergency Alert System (EAS). And, depending upon your viewpoint, it was a success or a failure.  But isn't that like most government programs?

If the goal was to grab the programming of virtually every station in the country, it was a success. Aside from some pockets, the EAN was distributed nearly everywhere, horrid audio included. While we knew within a few minutes of the test that there was a loop in the conference bridge used to feed the PEP stations - and even where the problem originated - it took the FEMA three weeks to tell us there was a problem. The last minute moves to change the length of the test and to provide Internet reporting on the test was also flawed.

Although it only took 15 years to have the National EAN test, the last minute dance caused some confusion that should not have happened. But, really, it was the first time. We probably need to give a Mulligan on it. 

In the weeks since, we have seen the CAP server go down for almost a week after having announced that they would be sending weekly tests to EAS receivers with the right software. When contacted, FEMA said there was no problem. But suddenly, the CAP feed to stations returned.

Perhaps the real question relates to the future of EAS. What do stations want and how does that compare with the government's plans? Given the rather unbalanced "required participation" versus the "please cooperate" request to EMs, more work is needed. The recent effort to require CAP certification for EMs wishing FEMA moeny is a good first step.

The FCC's latest review of EAS was just published in the Federal Register. However, the long awaited Part 11 rewrite itself is still awaited. Let's hope it comes soon, and does more than generate revenue for the Enforcement Bureau.

HD RADIO

Despite the excitement about increasing the HD carrriers, it doesn't seem a lot has happened, other than many stations abandoning their digital transmissions when parts break. Some car radios are being touted, but whether they will prove a success is another matter.  NPR is the big foundation holding HD from being totally irrelevant. And why not? With all the free steaming on the Internet, what good is a secondary channel with a jukebox on it? NPR at least uses the channels for solid programming.

THE END OF THE WORLD

Despite the heavy media attention given to specific dates proclaimed by one of the religious broadcasters, the world did not end in 2011. Twice. Or was it three times?

And now some will tell us we have to spend  time this year worrying about 2012 being the end of the Mayan calendar and hence, the end of the world.

There is no question that the economy is in bad shape, and despite the politicians telling us they know what to do, people seem to be more and more convinced that things will not improve for a while yet.

Perhaps we would be better served if we all just took a moment to work on our little corner of the world, and exhibit the qualities that promote the peace, kindness, and morals that bring people together, rather than promoting the political and social divisiveness we see around us. Some of us do believe the God has a timetable to end a system of things. But, until then, each of us can take personal responsbility to do our best in treating one another. 

THE BDR

Thanks for being part of the BDR in 2011.

We are thrilled to note that over the year 2011, our number of unique visitors has jumped considerably. We owe our thanks to you and those to whom you have recommended the BDR. We plan to continue to provide more of what we have been doing and add some new features this year. Your comments and suggestions of what we can do to better serve you are more than welcome.

Finally, here's looking at 2012 and we hope the best for you and yours in the coming year!

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What do you think?

What to share your thoughts?  You are welcome - and invited - to do so.

11/10/11

The Test That Took 15 Years

Wow, did we have fun yesterday?

FEMA has said the first ever National EAS Test was a success. No ... stop laughing! Think about it. It was only a test. (Commenting on "what if?" is not helpful unless you put into practice the lessons learned from the test.)

That said, there were disappointments. Yes, the audio was horrible. (Discussion of why, and audio samples are here.) But realistically, what should we expect from the first test of the entire system? And, yes, there is a lot to be sought in terms of improvements in the reporting system (those Web Forms). But it was the first time the entire national system was tested. And even tests with failures are good and useful tests.

Sure, we could hope for crisp, clean audio, voiced well, and containing good information. But even if the audio was something we would normally be ashamed of, if it were our doing, the EAS boxes generally did what they should do: they opened up and printed out the information from the header bursts. They passed audio (of a sort). They took the EOM (in most cases) and shut down.

As to the Web Forms, some folks at the FCC made the effort to let us know that information, not enforcement, was the goal. Still, they could have spoken to broadcasters a bit, and much more quickly addressed the many questions that came out of either imprecise or overly precise instructions. Efforts were made. Perhaps not enough. But it was a test.

Overall, if you really are honest about it: for a first test, all of that is not really so bad.

PREDICTIONS

More than a few folks have commented that the EAS system should have been tested from end to end 15 years ago. In fact, several of them have predicted many of the problems we saw displayed yesterday.

OK, fair enough.  We cannot go back and test in 1997 anymore - unless Dr. Who shows up. So, let us move on.

That said, we got to see a new problem ... one for which the solution should be simple - if the federal agencies will just stop mandating things and start listening to broadcasters. The existing system was already in danger of failure in 1997, and in many areas, little has been changed in 15 years.

Broadcasters have told the FCC for years how the system could be improved. Generally, it had a very low interest level, except at the Enforcement Bureau as a revenue generator.

Perhaps this test will be the catalyst for real change.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE

Actually, the next steps are simple.  Let the feds spend their time working on their feed and procedures. The interacgency turf wars and finger pointing needs to stop. We have complained often that for federal communication agencies, the FCC and FEMA do not communicate very well. Often it is the need for many levels of manager and lawyer to vet every pronouncemnt. This has to stop!

FEMA: Please ... stop the web broadcasts and piles of paper plans. Develop a system to deliver good clean audio to the PEP stations, the national news networks, and whomever else you want to talk to. Leave the rest of the system alone.

FCC: PLEASE deliver changes to the EAS Rules that solve problems, not merely raise more questions. Talk to broadcasters, and see how the existing Rules are completely at odds with how many, if not most, stations operate.

FEMA/FCC: Most importantly, do something. Talk to your Congressional masters. Solve the problem of mandated operations by broadcasters coupled with "voluntary" operations by emergency managers, state officials, etc. Broadcasters do not need a Governor's Override to allow more political speech on the air. When emergencies occur, one of two things happen:

1. Stations stop programming and devote themselves - people and resources - to air emergency infomation.

2. Stations continue to play the automation until the power goes out.

If you (federal agencies) want to do something to make EAS truly useful, you will go back to your Congressional masters and solve the problem. Help those broadcasters who want to serve their community. Relieve those who do not; put the licenses elsewhere.

STATE/LOCAL  SECC/LECC

But there needs to be work at the other end of the system. The LECC's and SECC's need to ensure that their areas are working properly during the existing test schedules. 

This is not too hard. Some of the states already have, in place, regional systems that allow the SECC to "see" if all stations are online and ready ... or if one or more is not able to receive an alert.

Better audio paths, with fewer STLs, audio processors, and clippers in the path, would go a long way to solving issues. Why cannot we use the NPR satellites or affiliates as a primary national and/or state source?  Most television stations are ruggedized and have redundant power. Why can we not have one of the digital carriers used for EAS distribution in local areas? PBS stations are often owned by state and local entities. Why should they not be a hub for information?

Of course, this goes back to the nature of LECC/SECC in the pecking order. It is largely volunteer. Another unfunded mandate. The FCC needs to work with other agencies so the burden is not on broadcasters alone - with potential fines as the whip. It will take a lot of cooperation in DC to bring about an environment where the national broadcasters are able to have the tools they need to do the job.

In fact, if the FCC and FEMA truly want to ensure a robust, viable EAS, they could do a lot worse than use some of the budget that produces web broadcasts, paper chases, Web Forms that take hours to figure out and, instead, provide a national grid of available audio and EAS receivers. Take the financial and equipment budget out of the stations' hands, just as FEMA now does with the generators and spare transmitters they install at PEP sites.

It would not cost as much as all the regulatory issues that are now happening.

It is clear, we need another test before 15 more years pass. Why not make FEMA's feed, with a Test code NPT (National Periodic Test) every quarter or six months, part of the testing? Certainly it would be better for the system than the compelely useless Required Weekly Test that really proves nothing more than automation can start a test!

And then, we might just get clean, clear audio and instruction upon which stations, listeners and local EMs could rely.

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What do you think?

What to share your thoughts here?  You are welcome - and invited - to do so.

Richard Rudman Responds:

Barry - You have covered a lot of ground and given a lot of EAS stakeholders a lot of food for thought and action in your EAS Editorial.

It is still too early to chart out a precise plan of action for all concerned, but of one thing I am certain. We all should be working toward getting away from SAME EAS and implementing CAP with non-Internet reinforcement, wired and wireless. As you know, Comments were filed with the FCC to that effect as part of the FCC's looking at the Part 11 rewrite. The ball is in the FCC's court to respond to what was said.

My prediction: Forces arguing to stick with SAME EAS will be met with more opposition as test results are assessed. I am hoping for that transition to happen in my lifetime. For anyone wondering how old I am, contact me off list. :-)
 

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