Forum Discussion
I can understand what you are saying, but I still think something is wrong. We have had Cox cable for about 3 years. I have never received an EAS message for my area. They have all been for the Spotsylvania area. I know that there have been instances in the past where my cell phone has delivered a alert for weather in my area, but the cable tv never has.
Again, it's a broadcast community. Every public and private communications service in your area has to comply. You'll get alerts for Spotsylvania and Spotsylvania will get your rarities.
- mharvey316 years agoNew Contributor II
I am still not buying this. Something is wrong.
Today there were tornado warnings in my area in Fairfax county. We did not get anything from Cox Cable. Not a peep.
Just now we get a warning for a severe thunderstorm warning... in Spotsylvania county. Nothing for us. This is wrong.
- Bruce6 years agoHonored Contributor III
Same message; different systems. Radio stations (WBAL and WFED) and cable systems (Cox) use IPAWS to distribute messages in a broadcast area, which is required. Meanwhile, wireless carriers use the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system to distribute messages in a geographically-targeted area, which is voluntary.
Some wireless carriers allow subscribers to block some alerts, not all, so that may be worth researching.
The nature of a mobile phone (roaming, visiting, traveling) would explain why wireless systems would distribute a message but "fixed" systems (Cox) would not.
- Bruce6 years agoHonored Contributor III
You did not receive tornado and thunderstorm warnings. The EAS messages you cited were Wind Advisories. Stations can opt out of relaying some weather advisories (winds) and AMBER Alerts.
- Bruce6 years agoHonored Contributor III
You're comparing 2 different systems using 2 different technologies using radio waves from terrestrial towers to reach everybody within broadcast communities and geographical areas stuffed with trees, hills, buildings, tunnels and walls. Some stations can opt out of some messages while some carriers can opt all. There's nothing wrong, there's nothing to correct, there's nothing to buy, there's nobody to blame. The FCC designed it to be intrusive and redundant, which naturally create a nuisance.
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