Organization and Concepts of the Oregon EAS
B. Delivery Plan / Monitoring Assignments
C. Development of Local EAS Structure and Plans
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3/11/97 3 IV. Organization and Concepts of the Oregon State EAS
Every broadcast station and subject cable system will be assigned an EAS designation by the FCC which defines their EAS status. Consult the FCC Map-book in this Plan to determine your EAS designation.
NP (National Primary) = A source of National EAS Alerts.
SRN (State Relay Network) = The State Relay Network consists of the main and translator stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), main and translator stations of Southern Oregon Public Broadcasting, and main and translator stations of KWAX-FM
LP (Local Primary) = Broadcast stations which are primary sources of Local Area, National, State, and Weather Alerts. Oregon State LP stations are listed in the state EAS matrices.
LRN (Local Relay Network) = A radio or other communications system used to distribute sources of local operational area EAS information to stations and cable systems in specific operational areas.
PN (Participating National) = Broadcast stations and cable systems which deliver all levels of EAS to the general public. Most broadcasters and cable operators are designated as PN.
NN (Non-Participating National) = Broadcasters which elect not to participate in national level EAS. These stations must have specific authorization from the FCC to sign off the air during a national emergency.
NUCLEAR PLANT / INDUSTRIAL PLANT = Nuclear and other industrial plants with a potential for dangerous conditions may have their own specific EAS plans which must conform to EAS standards and be approved by the appropriate LAECC and the SECC.
12/29/2000 4 B. Delivery Plan / Monitoring Assignments
The SECC is required by the FCC to develop an EAS message delivery plan which will provide a minimum of two sources for all levels of EAS alerts to each broadcast station and subject cable system. The Oregon SECC has developed a more extensive plan, which assigns up to six sources of EAS information to each station and subject cable system. The two required monitoring sources would, in most cases, provide all levels of EAS alerts; the additional monitoring assignments will provide direct access to various sources of EAS information. The goal of the Oregon State message delivery plan is to exceed FCC minimum requirements and develop a truly useful, robust message delivery system.
Monitoring assignments for all broadcast stations and subject cable systems in Oregon State are included in this plan.
C. Development of Local EAS Structure and Plans
A basic EAS system would have a single entry point of access for all authorized agencies within a local operational area. This point would consist of an EAS encoder and a communication link capable of sending EAS information to an LP station.
The Oregon SECC wants EAS to grow and evolve beyond this basic EAS system, especially at the local level. Indeed, some local areas and large cities have already developed more sophisticated systems. In most cases, law enforcement agencies and local OEM authorities within the local area obtain their own EAS encoders which give each of them the ability to signal their local broadcasters and cable operators directly. This is the way the EAS architecture was envisioned to work when the concept of EAS was proposed.
Local operational area plans should be written to detail the structure and procedures for each local operational area. As changes are made in local EAS structure and procedure, the local operational area plans should be revised to reflect those changes. The initial plans and all revisions are to be submitted by LAECC chairpersons for inclusion in this state plan.
3/11/97 5 D. Origin's of EAS Information.
The President of the United States or other federal authorities may utilize the facilities of EAS in a national emergency. Notification of a national EAS alert comes in the form of an EMERGENCY ACTION NOTIFICATION (EAN) from the White House. This notification is distributed to the nation via the following method:
The network of PRIMARY ENTRY POINT (PEP) AM broadcast stations. PEP stations in the Pacific Northwest are:
2. State-Level System (State Relay Network)
3. National Weather Service Distribution
NOAA/NWS operate NOAA Weather Radio stations throughout the state. These facilities transmit weather and other emergency information to broadcast stations and cable systems as well as to the general public.
4. Local EAS Distribution System (Local Area Network)
Several areas in the state are served by Local Area Networks. These generally consist of radio or other communications systems that provide the means for sources of local operational area EAS information to reach broadcasters and cable systems. In some cases a given communications system may be shared so that it may serve more than one local operational area.
Specific details of communications circuits serving Local Operational Areas are contained in the LAECC Local Area Plans.
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