ABSTRACT OF PRESENTATION
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KEYWORDS EAS, EBS, CONELRAD, Localism,
Federal Communications Commission, Voice Tracking, ENDEC, PEP
Stations, Local Primary Stations, Emergency Messaging, Local Radio,
Emergency Management Agencies, Daisy Chains, NOAA Weather Radio,
Train Derailment, Hazardous Cargo, Homeland Security, Commercial
Radio Broadcasting.
Changes in broadcasting regulation and newly emerging technologies
have contributed
to a shift in the way commercial AM and FM radio stations can
be operated and managed. Once the backbone of a cold war emergency
alert network and strategic deterrent system, commercial radio
stations still act as a part of a public emergency messaging system;
now known as the Emergency Alert System. But given the present
new era of de-regulatory broadcasting, some suggest that commercial
radio has lost its edge as a part of a viable public emergency
alert network. This research attempts to identify issues surrounding
the break down of the EAS system during a train derailment of
hazardous materials near Minot, North Dakota, in January 2003.
Using the Minot event as a model, this derailment is
compared to a derailment and hazardous spill that occurred in
Macdona, Texas June 2004. Through interviews with representatives
of the EPA, NOAA, state and local emergency managers as well as
with radio station engineers, an analysis is constructed around
the use of the EAS during these emergencies. This study
also includes a series of empirical inquiries that include: the
monitoring of specific stations for air quality, tracing the filing
of a formal FCC complaint, and a survey of a sample of EAS local
primary AM and FM stations nationwide. Finally, recommendations
are provided that consider the role of commercial radio as a viable
emergency messaging system in the context of homeland security
and the ideals of localism.
SELECTED LINKS TO THIS
PRESENTATION
EAS
GLOSSARY FROM COLORADO
EAS GLOSSARY
FROM CALIFORNIA
FCC Search Tools
CALL
SIGN SEARCH
AM SEARCH FM SEARCH
NOAA WEATHER
RADIO
FIND A RADIO STATION
RADIO AMATEUR
CIVIL DEFENSE GROUP
FEMA
HOMELAND SECURITY
WHAT HAPPENED AT MINOT, NORTH DAKOTA?
NTSB
DERAILED LIVES PART 1
LAWSUITS
FILED OVER MINOT
WHAT HAPPENED AT MACDONA, TEXAS?
US
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
WHAT HAPPENED AT GRANITEVILLE, SOUTH
CAROLINA?
WIS
TV NEWS ACCOUNT
US
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
EMERGENCY
PLANNING FOR CHEMICAL SPILLS
NTSB DERAILMENTS / FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION
DOCKETS
DERAILMENTS
FRA
VIEWPOINTS ON LOCALISM
COMMUNICATIONS BREAKDOWN
RADIO OWNERSHIP
LOCALISM AND DIVERSITY
FCC LOCALISM
LOW POWER FM
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
A NEW
EAS DELIVERY SYSTEM: HAZCOLLECT