Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!sun-barr!apple!mailcom!Ploni.Almoni
From: Ploni.Almoni@mailcom.FIDONET.ORG (Ploni Almoni)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: EEEEEEEEEE  This has been a test of the ...
Message-ID: <4073.24CAF5B1@mailcom.FIDONET.ORG>
Date: 23 Jul 89 22:32:58 GMT
Organization: MailCom Public USENET, Palo Alto CA (415) 855-9548
Lines: 37


   
Todd --
  
To answer your question -- first, a bit of understanding about the
Emergency Broadcast System (EBS).
  
In spite of the "attention signal", EBS is not meant to ALERT the
public for "Civil Defense" purposes.  They lost the political battle
about twenty years ago to NOAA, the folks who run the Weather Radio on
162.40 / 162.475 / 162.55 MHz.  Of course, NOAA never put the warning
system into operation, but that's a different kettle of radios.  The
function of EBS is to provide "official word" about natural and man-
made disasters (such as tidal waves, hurricanes, or explosions) from
the "appropriate" governmental emergency services organization.  It is
NOT meant to alert the public that a nuclear war has been started.
  
The Attention Signal is meant to unmute monitor receivers which are
required to be located in every AM, FM and TV station, tuned to the
Common Program and Control Station (CPCS), one in each county, which
is required to have direct wire and radio links to the emergency
services organization.  In large cities it is not unusual to have more
than one CPCS.  It is the "text" of the CPCS programming which is
meant to alert the public.
  
So, in every station, AM, FM or TV, yes, there is (as your message
described it) a decoder that sits on a local station and "lights up"
when the EBS goes off.  No big deal, my friend.
  
Questions??                     -=Ploni=-
  
  



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