| Publisher: Information Station Specialists |
| Harrison Ford Voices Safety Broadcasts at Jackson Hole |
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JACKSON, WY: Who
knows how things can go wrong better than Indiana Jones?
So, it was natural that Friends of Bridger Teton
National Forest would ask actor Harrison Ford, who has
property in the region, to record fire safety messages
to broadcast on
their three Information Radio Stations
just installed in the Jackson Hole area. |
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| Photo Courtesy of Journalist Hanna Merzbach & KHOL Radio |
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Scott Kosiba, Executive
Director of Friends of Bridger-Teton National Forest
told The Source, "We are thrilled to deploy
Information Stations to better communicate messages
related to wildfire risk and other critical responsible
recreation information to the public. As the nonprofit
partner to one of the largest National Forests in the
US, these stations provide an invaluable tool to keep
our forest users safe.” |
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| Shutterstock Photo |
| Will 2024 Solar Event Eclipse Safety Resources? |
| Public safety officials in a
narrow lane spanning from Texas to Maine are bracing for
the crush of visitors expected during next April’s total
solar eclipse. Lodging is "totally" gone. That means
travelers will be everywhere, living in everything, all
to experience mere minutes under the ethereal lunar
shadow. Some agencies, such as Morgan County Indiana’s Department of Emergency Management, are planning to advise visitors via car radio. Director of Public Safety Dispatch Scott Hamilton says they "plan on using their RadioSAFE system to broadcast pertinent local information, such as designated public viewing areas, traffic conditions and alternate travel routes in the event of road closures." The County is applying to make their 1700 AM radio service permanent and is seeking a waiver for enhanced range. Other agencies in the corridor are renting radio systems and erecting temporary signage. The Source advises, “One cloudy day is all it takes to eclipse the best laid viewing plans. To save time and money, stay home and watch online, where special glasses are not required.” |
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| AM Radio Is Deemed "Absolutely Mandatory" | ||||
| Virtually all are convinced of the band’s value to America … except automakers. | ||||
| WASHINGTON, DC:
The 70's soul group implored, “Don’t let money change you.”
But Detroit, of all places, was not listening. It was
Ford’s proposal to remove all AM radios from
their vehicles in April that ignited a grassroots
push-back with so much torque that it had the company shifting
to “reverse” by May. First they said the reason for the change was because Electric Vehicle (EV) radio reception has unavoidable interference. When that was proven untrue, they suggested that no one listens to AM anymore. But Ford buyers told the company otherwise. Finally, they asserted that AM receivers aren’t needed in gas-powered vehicles either. America saw through that one. The move was really about lowering costs at the expense of driver safety ̶ not a good look for an automaker. Opponents entered the ring from every direction: local and state emergency and health managers, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters), state broadcast associations, a rare bipartisan consortium of congresspeople and even a FCC commissioner weighed in. America had invested heavily in the AM infrastructure for national emergencies – and had even hardened it against attacks. When Americans saw AM on the ropes, it was time to call the fight unfair. Sensing zero opposition, Congress stepped in with the “AM Radio In Every Vehicle Act,” which you can personally support by signing the NAB’s petition that directs your voice to your elected leaders. (Visit 'Act Now' to add your name to list of those who support the legislation, which requires carmakers to continue to provide AM receivers in all vehicles at no additional charge, until a better means of emergency notification is found.) South Dakota’s attorney general Marty Jackley pushed Congress for approval in a recent interview. He noted the low demand for electric vehicles and the high interest in AM radio as a carrier of public health and safety messages, severe weather warnings and emergency information. Chris Winkle, president of the Kentucky Broadcasters Association has pointed out that AM service is critical because it reaches 90% of the US population during a national emergency, noting its resiliency ̶ that it's not based on internet or cellular delivery methods. (It is widely held that cellular and internet services are not likely to be functional in a large-scale disaster; and even if they were, their utility would be limited since in most states, hand-held portable devices are not allowed to be used by drivers while operating vehicles.) The Source will keep you updated. |
| new products |
| Sign of Things to Come |
| Safety Agencies to Benefit from Improved Portable LED Signage |
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| The popular
“LIGHTNING” Portable LED Message Sign
product has been available from Information Station
Specialists since 2015, but technical advances have come
to “light” recently that have made it more convenient,
effective and affordable. These changeable message signs
– typically mounted on portable stands – are used to
notify drivers approaching a variety of scenes, from
temporary health clinics to road closures to emergency
event perimeters. Lighter: The sign's LED display now weighs less than 1/3 of its original weight – now 13 lbs – lowering its center of gravity and making it a much easier one-person setup. Brighter: The LED intensity is up, so messages are even easier to view in intense sunlight. They also now may be displayed in multiple colors. Smartphone Programmable: A free app allows messages to be transferred via WIFI using the user’s smartphone or with the standard USB / stick method. Costs Down: There is now a permanent 20% reduction in price for the sign and all options in addition to another 20% discount available to buyers with public safety applications. Recent adopters include departments of public health in Hendricks County, Indiana and Frederick County, Maryland. |
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| "I'd like a VoiceStar System |
| ... but hold the sign, please." |
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| The VoiceStar T100 Portable Radio Station |
| Photo by Camden County Emergency Management Agency |
| KINGSLAND, GA: The
VoiceStar System – a towable trailer with radio
station and changeable message sign – is now joined by a
streamlined "sign-free' version, i.e., portable radio
station only. Camden County, a coastal county in Georgia just north of Jacksonville, Florida, can experience direct hits from hurricanes and must manage communications with motorists as they evacuate or reenter affected areas. So the County Emergency Management Agency recently added the new "VoiceStar T100" radio station to its safety arsenal. Deputy Director Bill Carreira told The Source, “It is covering our whole [hurricane] evacuation Zone C and actually a lot more…about 5 miles in all directions.” |
PO Box 51, Zeeland, Michigan, USA, 49464-0051, Phone 616.772.2300, Email
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