Board advances plan to add local emergency-alert capability with new transcoders

Technical staff (speaker S5) described steps to integrate a local Emergency Alert System capability into the district’s infrastructure, using optional modules on new transcoders and a device at the fiber hut to intercept and interrupt incoming programming.

"So this device allows us to intercept, and the the new transcoder is going up on Lamoille," S5 said, explaining that each new transcoder includes an $800 optional module that would support EAS activation at the fiber hut. Staff said the device would allow local National Weather Service and NOAA triggers to interrupt programming and make the district effectively a primary EAS activation point for local alerts affecting Elko County.

S5 told the board the district will coordinate with county emergency management and the National Weather Service to set permissions and testing protocols; staff estimated installation and testing could be completed within roughly 45 days if equipment arrives and is installed on schedule. The hardware-savings from waived shipping and tariff reductions helped make room in the budget to add the optional EAS modules, staff said.