Clear Channel's destruction of the Emergency Alert System

[fryguy]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/28/magazine/28WWLN_IdeaLab.t.html?ref=magazine

An interesting article regarding how Clear Channel's accumulation and centralization of radio stations is rendering the Emergency Alert System ineffective.

Alarmingly the current effort to improve and update the system is directed not toward radios, a medium of communication available to nearly all americans of all economic levels, but rather "to developing new technologies for personalized notification, like reverse 911 calling programs and S.M.S. alerts sent to mobile telephones." Meaning, if you don't have the economic resources to have a web enabled cell phone, good luck finding out about the impending disaster in your neighborhood.

Also mentioned in the article is that the Bush Administration did not to activate the Emergency Alert System on September 11 or during Hurricane Katrina. I haven't heard this get mentioned before and cannot imagine what rational could be made for not activating in both instances.

[The Wielding Truth]

1. Public safety again last on the BushCo list. Is the FCC who we contact

on an explanation of the certain results from these reckless changes?

[fryguy]

2. not sure

But I think at a minimum letters/emails/calls to Congress are in order to ask what is going on with the system

[Robbien]

3. BushCo did their emergency alert system. They called Trent Lott

and the other million/billionaires in the Gulf coast.

This new cell phone emergency alert system worked like a charm.

Just joshing, but figure I am not too far off from reality.