WSCA Station Handbook and Training Manual - Prometheus Radio ...

open. Generally speaking, An Audacity icon is located in the task bar running in the
background when OTIS is running in the foreground. If it is not found in the task bar,
you will have to manually make the connection to the station file server by clicking the
VNC icon either in the task bar or on the desktop.
The use of “OTIS” is limited to the OTIS program and accessing Audacity
recording software on the station file server.
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XII. STUDIO COMPUTER
A. The studio computer shares a monitor and keyboard with OTIS. To switch between the two,
simply hit the scroll lock button (upper right on the keyboard) twice in quick succession. It
serves two primary purposes:
The National Weather Service’s Maine forecast office website is this computer’s home
page. This is the programmer’s source for the weather report that is a routine part of our
broadcast hour. If you use the computer for another purpose please switch back to the
NWS website at the end of our program.
The studio computer is internet enabled to allow DJ’s to responsibly access news items,
music and other potential program material from the studio. Like the other station
computers internet access is not provided for unlimited personal ‘web browsing”.
XIII. THE EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM
A. History:
ʺThis is a test of the Emergency Alert System—this is only a test…ʺ If you have heard or seen
these words on a radio of television station then you’re acquainted with the Emergency Alert
System (EAS).
In 1951, President Harry Truman established CONELRAD (Control of Electromagnetic
Radiation) as the first national alerting system. CONELRAD later became the Emergency
Broadcast System (EBS) which was intended to provide the President with a means to address
the American people in the event of a national emergency. Through the EBS the President had
access to thousands of broadcast stations to send an emergency message to the public.
In 1994, to overcome some of the limitations of the EBS system, the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) replaced the EBS with the EAS. The FCC designed the EAS in cooperation
with the National Weather Service (NWS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) and each agency plays a role. The FCC has oversight regarding the technical and
operational requirements of the EAS and ensures that state and local EAS plans conform to the
FCC’s rules and regulations. The NWS provides emergency weather information to alert the
public about dangerous conditions. FEMA provides direction for state and local emergency
planning officials to plan and implement their roles in the EAS.
Some changes from the EBS include:
The EAS allows broadcast stations, cable systems, participating satellite companies, and
other services to send and receive emergency information automatically, even if these
facilities are unattended.