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Aurora
chose an outdoor cabinet for electronics with doors that
open on two sides. |
|
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Subcontractor Century Electric's Mike Kattich mounts the
antenna, while the supplier's field tech installs
electronics. |
|
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Mike
Kattich & Tom Coviak route services. |
|
Aurora Illinois Emergency
Management Department |
2005, 2013 |
Snapshots of Aurora's Emergency Advisory Radio Station
Installation:
ALERT
AM |
In 2013, Mark Flaherty, then emergency management
director for the City of Aurora, (along with many other
licensees) sent the FCC the following letter discussing
the value of information radio in support of updating
rules for the Travelers Information Radio Service.
Subsequently, the FCC did clarify and update the Rules. |
"Located 40 miles west of Chicago, Aurora is the second
largest city in the State of Illinois. The City of
Aurora has been a licensed operator of a Travelers
Information Station for many years [since 2005]. As
Aurora’s Emergency Management Director, I want to
congratulate the FCC on their work to update TIS Part 90
Rules, especially with regard to giving licensees more
discretion in emergency information that can be
broadcast. I also want to encourage the Commission to
finalize the proposed rules without delay.
"It is extremely helpful that the FCC has clarified the
broadcast content for Public Safety related emergency
messages, such as AMBER and Silver alerts, evacuation
routes, emergency points of assembly, locations of
shelters, health care and other emergency facilities,
and NOAA 'All Hazard' Alerts. I also fully support the
removal of the output filters but respectfully ask that
removal be made optional and that recertification not be
required.
"... Forecast information is vitally important from a
Public Safety standpoint for informing the motoring
public and those who work, conduct, manage, participate,
or attend outdoor activities such as the building
trades/construction sites, outdoor sports and recreation
events, outdoor fairs, community festivals, concerts, or
farmer’s markets, etc. Hazard/threat awareness is
critical to personal safety and avoiding exposure to
hazardous weather situations. Knowing that a severe
weather potential does not exist is equally important
for planning purposes as knowing that a severe weather
threat does exist. It all has to do with planning to be
safe. Having full NOAA Weather Radio content available
on a TIS station also works to increase the reach
(listenership) of the TIS station as a public safety
tool, because more people will become accustomed to
listening to the TIS station as a 24/7 source of useful
information readily available on a daily basis as well
as during emergencies." Mark Flaherty |
|
© 1983-2021 • Information Station Specialists,
Inc. • All Rights Reserved
PO Box 51, Zeeland, Michigan, USA, 49464-0051, Phone
616.772.2300, Fax 616.772.2966,
Email the Editor
• • •
|
Information Radio Stations is a generic term
synonymous with Travelers Information Stations (TIS), Highway
Advisory Radio Stations (HAR) / Highway Information Systems &
Low Power Radio Stations (LPR). Operation of the stations is
governed by FCC Part 90.242 Rules. A FCC license is required.
Information Radio Stations may be fixed or portable.
Subcomponents may include transmitter, antenna and ground
system, digital voice player, wattmeter, cabinet with
conventional or Corbin locks, lightning arrestors for RF, power
and telephone lines, coaxial cable. Most stations employ black
maximized antennas to discourage ice accumulation and security
measures to prevent unauthorized program access. Options include
synchronization, battery backup, solar power, remote programming
by local, network or telco, multi-station audio distribution via
RF or LAN / WAN or wireless network. |