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Jeff Williams Off to Santa BarbaraEAS Chairman Resigns By Gary Stigall, CSTE Jeff Williams, Program Director of KPOP resigned as Chairman of the LECC for San Diego. He stated on the local EAS e-mail list, "Starting August 2, 1999, I will become Program Director for both News/Talk KTMS and XTRA Sports KXXT in Santa Barbara. Effective immediately, Oscar Medina will be the point person for all broadcasters in San Diego regarding EAS issues. "I wish you all the best, and will try to be helpful as I can while taking on a new professional challenge. " Jeff reigned over the beginning of the new EAS system and at the same time was in charge of implementing EAS operations of the two primary broadcast stations in the San Diego operational area. The concept of originating a test signal to be relayed over TV and radio stations, as well as cable, was a new one. The alert failures during in the implementation rollout proved to be frustrating for Jeff, as revealed in earlier EAS system e-mail missives. Some alerts were late, some missed at the whim of on-duty personnel. Due to Jeff's perserverance, those problems have since largely been ironed out. We asked Jeff to evaluate his involvement with EAS: "I'm glad I took part of getting the broadcasters together and learning how to use help from others to finish the plan by December 1997. Mostly this was a maturing experience for me personally. There are a couple things left undone, but nothing that would affect the integrity of the system here in San Diego. Things have been running smoothly this year compared to when the system was implemented in January of 1996." He started in radio at KFMB July 1986 at the age of 17 as an overnight board-op. He went to college in Boston and worked as a producer at WRKO until November of 1990, graduating with a BS in Mass Communications from Emerson College. He worked as a producer at KFMB, then joined KSDO in 1995 in the same capacity. He was appointed to the EAS post in March of 1997, three months after Jacor bought KSDO. He became Program Director of KPOP in August that year. Concludes Jeff, "Clear Channel, Jacor and Jack Evans (VP Programming) gave me an offer I cannot refuse, especially when they are handing me the keys and saying "make this thing run." June Chimes InJune Butler of the local FCC office said, "I remember Jeff saying was that he didn't know that much about EAS. However, he said he was willing to learn about it and give 200% in making it work. Jeff did just that and with EAS Vice-Chairman Oscar Medina, the local plan was finally approved." Jeff has done an outstanding job in his chairmanship. Under his leadership, he held numerous meetings with broadcasters, cable companies and state and federal representatives, to discuss the writing of the local EAS plan. He offered his assistance to other broadcasters in their training of EAS to their employees, provided advance notice of EAS monthly tests via e-mail and fax, and asked for input concerning EAS problems, tests, etc. on the San Diego EAS list server. He also attended meetings of the Local Emergency Communications Committee in El Centro to discuss areas of mutual concern in the Eastern portion of San Diego County and Imperial County. Jeff's dedication has made a difference in making EAS work in San Diego. We should all applaud Jeff for the great public service. He will truly be missed. June Chimes InJune Butler of the local FCC office said, "I remember Jeff saying was that he didn't know that much about EAS. However, he said he was willing to learn about it and give 200% in making it work. Jeff did just that and with EAS Vice-Chairman Oscar Medina, the local plan was finally approved. "Jeff has done an outstanding job in his chairmanship. Under his leadership, he held numerous meetings with broadcasters, cable companies and state and federal representatives, to discuss the writing of the local EAS plan. He offered his assistance to other broadcasters in their training of EAS to their employees, provided advance notice of EAS monthly tests via e-mail and fax, and asked for input concerning EAS problems, tests, etc. on the San Diego EAS list server. He also attended meetings of the Local Emergency Communications Committee in El Centro to discuss areas of mutual concern in the Eastern portion of San Diego County and Imperial County. "Jeff's dedication has made a difference in making EAS work in San Diego. We should all applaud Jeff for the great public service. He will truly be missed." |
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Web site contents ©1999 Society of Broadcast Engineers Chapter 36 San Diego. For more information, to become a member or a sponsor, or to make suggestions or comments, e-mail sbe36@broadcast.net. Write to P.O. Box 710702, San Diego, California 92171-0702. Edited by Gary Stigall. Revised 14-Aug-99. |
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