gzowner
01-27-2006, 06:25 AM
The nation's top two satellite TV providers approached the Federal Communications Commission with their issues about possibly supplying localized information to viewers from the Emergency Alert System (EAS), saying such an effort could be difficult - if not impossible - for small dish services.
In comments sent to the FCC, DirecTV said distribution of state and local EAS messages by satellite TV presents several challenges due to the national character and technical restraints of DBS service. Nonetheless, DirecTV said it's looking into options in which it can voluntarily alert subscribers to regional emergency conditions as a complement to EAS efforts from local broadcasters and other local news sources.
DirecTV reminded the commission it already provides state and local emergency information to subscribers by retransmitting state and local alerts aired by the local broadcast stations it delivers to customers.
In addition, DirecTV said it could dedicate a full-time channel, available nationwide to all subscribers, that would carry national, state and local EAS alerts. During the Hurricane Katrina disaster, DirecTV had a channel carrying official messages from federal entities and the Red Cross, live press conferences from government and public safety officials, and other information.
In its comments, EchoStar also reiterated the limitations DBS faces in delivering local EAS information.
"A local EAS requirement for national satellite providers is not justified by the public interest," the company said. "It is inconsistent with the national nature of the satellite infrastructure, would entail an inefficient duplication of resources, would be technologically cumbersome for satellite providers, and would in fact detract from the national alertness by causing superimposition and mutual cancellation of alert messages from a multiplicity of sources."
In comments sent to the FCC, DirecTV said distribution of state and local EAS messages by satellite TV presents several challenges due to the national character and technical restraints of DBS service. Nonetheless, DirecTV said it's looking into options in which it can voluntarily alert subscribers to regional emergency conditions as a complement to EAS efforts from local broadcasters and other local news sources.
DirecTV reminded the commission it already provides state and local emergency information to subscribers by retransmitting state and local alerts aired by the local broadcast stations it delivers to customers.
In addition, DirecTV said it could dedicate a full-time channel, available nationwide to all subscribers, that would carry national, state and local EAS alerts. During the Hurricane Katrina disaster, DirecTV had a channel carrying official messages from federal entities and the Red Cross, live press conferences from government and public safety officials, and other information.
In its comments, EchoStar also reiterated the limitations DBS faces in delivering local EAS information.
"A local EAS requirement for national satellite providers is not justified by the public interest," the company said. "It is inconsistent with the national nature of the satellite infrastructure, would entail an inefficient duplication of resources, would be technologically cumbersome for satellite providers, and would in fact detract from the national alertness by causing superimposition and mutual cancellation of alert messages from a multiplicity of sources."