[grc] Public-Domain EAS station cost?

[Paul Bame]

I believe Al Davis pitched this idea a while back, and I have some
questions as I began to research it myself.

Specifically I'm wondering how much it would cost stations? My working
hypothesis is that a station which constructed its own EAS unit (from
open-source plans) could apply for a waiver under 47 CFR 11.34(e) which
would cost them no money according to 1.1116(c). The waiver would
logically be developed by the open-source developers and provided as
part of the package.

Does this seem feasible, or even correct?

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47 CFR 11.34(e) Waiver requests of the Certification requirements
for EAS Encoders or EAS Decoders which are constructed for use by an
EAS Participant, but are not offered for sale will be considered on an
individual basis in accordance with part 1, subpart G, of this chapter.

Subpart G is all about fees for applying for FCC certification and so
forth, however 1.1116(c) then exempts "Applicants, permittees or
licensees of noncommercial educational (NCE) broadcast stations in the
FM or TV services, as well as AM applicants, permittees or licensees
operating in accordance with §73.503 of this chapter."

			-p

P.S. This does not provide an obvious way to $upport the developers.
Perhaps a "suggested donation" might work, but that seems like it
might be crossing the line with respect to the intent of 11.34(e).

P.P.S. The linux minimodem command handles reception and generation of
the EAS data bursts. Sox(1) produces the attention tone. A Raspberry
Pi or other low-cost Linux computer plus a couple of cheap USB audio
dongles, controlling a light and a switch and a web interface, seems
like it should be plenty to pull this off. The requirements in 47 CFR 11
would require a bit of thought to produce something elegant, usable,
yet compliant. Another way to slice it is to write it as an android app
to be used on discarded cell phones.