RE Philadelphia emergency text messaging system [Telecom]

RE Philadelphia emergency text messaging system [Telecom]
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Subject Author Date
RE Philadelphia emergency text messaging system [Telecom] Neal McLain 04-09-2008
Posted by Neal McLain on April 9, 2008, 5:29 pm
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hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:

> They [cable TV companies] never hesitate to interupt
> something for a local ad for a used car dealer, but
> anything else, nope.

I wrote:

> (b) [Cable TV systems insert EAS alerts] Only on non-
> broadcast channels. Broadcast stations typically insert
> their own EAS alerts, and usually don't want cable TV
> systems to duplicate their alerts.

hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:

> I don't understand. If something is urgent, why it
> broadcasters put it out but not cable stations?

bonomi@host122.r-bonomi.com (Robert Bonomi) wrote:

> It's too much of an esoteric concept. If the broadcast
> station inserts the announcement in their signal
> _before_ it gets to the cable company, having the cable
> company insert a "similar" announcement has the potential
> for adding confusion. Example: the cable streamer covers
> up 70% of the height of the broadcast streamer -- you
> can't read what the broadcast station announcement
> was saying -- which had a real news update more recent
> than the EAS announcement info. Nor the 'Stay tuned to
> _us_ for more info'

And if cable's alert *doesn't* overlap the broadcaster's alert, it's
likely to interfere with unrelated broadcast material. It might even
interfere with a commercial!

Even worse, if cable puts the alert out first, a viewer might tune to
some other broadcast station looking for more information. Gasp!

Bonomi continued:

> The broadcast stations _don't_want_ the cable station to
> interfere with the EAS info they're _already_ putting
> out. _No_ benefit to the viewers under any possible
> circumstances, =and= a possible *disadvantage* to doing
> so.

Cable TV companies monitor the same EAS backchannels (the "local
primary" stations) that broadcast stations monitor, so they both get the
info at the same time. Cable companies use automatic equipment to
insert EAS alerts immediately, interrupting all other (non-broadcast)
programming. Broadcasters like to integrate the information into
regular programming. Depending on the urgency of the situation, a
broadcaster might or might not interrupt regular programming.

I wrote:

> [4] Your cable TV operator is violating federal law.

hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:

> Probably. It's a huge company. They do what they want.

But the FCC carries the big stick.

Neal McLain


NMFall 20%
Posted by Rob Levandowski on April 10, 2008, 12:32 am
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> Cable TV companies monitor the same EAS backchannels (the "local
> primary" stations) that broadcast stations monitor, so they both get the
> info at the same time. Cable companies use automatic equipment to
> insert EAS alerts immediately, interrupting all other (non-broadcast)
> programming. Broadcasters like to integrate the information into
> regular programming. Depending on the urgency of the situation, a
> broadcaster might or might not interrupt regular programming.

I have digital cable service from Time Warner. When they conduct an EAS
test, it's actually the cable box that generates the alert. They send
the EAS data to the cable box, and the box overlays it on whatever you
happen to be watching.

This is a requirement for digital cable, at least for the big boys.

I have a TiVo Series 3 digital video recorder. It uses two CableCard
devices to take the place of the cable company's box. In order to get
CableCard certification, TiVo had to build in certain EAS functionality.
For example, if you're watching something you had previously recorded
when an EAS alert is issued, the TiVo pauses what you're watching and
forcibly changes you to live TV, on a channel that's carrying the alert.
The TiVo then displays the EAS message using its own character
generator, just like a cable box. When the message is over, you can
return to what you were watching. If the TiVo had been recording
something when the EAS message came through, the recording will be
interrupted due to the need to tune in to the EAS message.

I can't say I've seen an EAS test message on a non-broadcast channel
that wasn't handled this way in the past year or so. Sending the
message out-of-band to the cable box may leave out people with basic
cable only, but for most cable customers it's more likely to get them to
see the alert.

And the TiVo behavior may be a bit of a pain when they issue an EAS test
during a season finale... but it makes a lot of sense in a real
emergency.

--
Rob Levandowski robl@macwhiz.com


Posted by T on April 10, 2008, 5:25 pm
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robl@macwhiz.com says...
>
>
> > Cable TV companies monitor the same EAS backchannels (the "local
> > primary" stations) that broadcast stations monitor, so they both get the
> > info at the same time. Cable companies use automatic equipment to
> > insert EAS alerts immediately, interrupting all other (non-broadcast)
> > programming. Broadcasters like to integrate the information into
> > regular programming. Depending on the urgency of the situation, a
> > broadcaster might or might not interrupt regular programming.
>
> I have digital cable service from Time Warner. When they conduct an EAS
> test, it's actually the cable box that generates the alert. They send
> the EAS data to the cable box, and the box overlays it on whatever you
> happen to be watching.
>
> This is a requirement for digital cable, at least for the big boys.
>
> I have a TiVo Series 3 digital video recorder. It uses two CableCard
> devices to take the place of the cable company's box. In order to get
> CableCard certification, TiVo had to build in certain EAS functionality.
> For example, if you're watching something you had previously recorded
> when an EAS alert is issued, the TiVo pauses what you're watching and
> forcibly changes you to live TV, on a channel that's rying the alert.
> The TiVo then displays the EAS message using its own character
> generator, just like a cable box. When the message is over, you can
> return to what you were watching. If the TiVo had been recording
> something when the EAS message came through, the recording will be
> interrupted due to the need to tune in to the EAS message.

You know, something struck me in all of this. What if you no longer
listen to radio or watch television? I don't do either anymore, instead
preferring net based video and podcasts.

Text messages to cell phones is the next best thing I suppose.


Posted by on April 11, 2008, 9:22 am
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> You know, something struck me in all of this. What if you no longer
> listen to radio or watch television? I don't do either anymore, instead
> preferring net based video and podcasts.

In the old days there sirens that would go off in an emergency.
Citzens were supposed to tune to a radio station for instructions.
This system peaked in the early 1960s for the cold war and was in
decline since then. I wonder how many cities still bother to have the
sirens. In Phila, they used to test them every Weds at noon.

Frankly, I think this is a very sensible approach. A network of
powerful sirens is not expensive. (Now the sirens are electronic
instead of mechanical.) Plenty of people aren't 'connected' in any
way. In conjunction with sirens, broadcast radio and TV, cable TV,
and newer media could provide specific instructions. I think almost
everybody still has a basic AM radio.

As an aside, it was Bell Labs that developed highly efficient LOUD
sirens during WW II for civil defense use. Some were so loud they
caused hearing damage.


> Text messages to cell phones is the next best thing I suppose.

Many people have block receipt of text messages.


Posted by DTC on April 11, 2008, 9:23 am
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T wrote:
> Text messages to cell phones is the next best thing I suppose.

The FCC seems to agree according to recent news articles.


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other useful resources:
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Telecommunications Industry Association
Electronic and Software Security Products and Services
International Telecommunication Union

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