iNews Briefs & Community Events
Community Events
MAY 20
Grand Court Jurors Notice
Grand Court jurors in the current session must report on Wednesday (20 May) at 9:45am.
Public Meeting West Bay
Leader of the Opposition, McKeeva Bush will host a public meeting on Wednesday, May 20 at the McRuss Parking Lot (Marina Dr. Prospect) at 7:30 pm.
The public is invited to come out to hear and discuss One Man, One Vote – Single Member Constituencies and the current state of affairs in the Cayman Islands.
“Putting Investors First” Event
The CFA Society in conjunction with the CFA Institute will be hosting the Cayman Islands inaugural “Putting Investors First” event as part of the CFA Putting Investors First Month (May). The event is Wednesday (20 May) at 5pm at the Marriott.
Siblings without rivalry session
Siblings without rivalry, friends for life skill building session is Wednesday (20 May) at 6pm at the Family Resource Center.
Floetry
Floetry is Wednesday (20 May) at 7pm at Books & Books.
Annual Spring Concert Grease
The Sunrise Adult Training Center presents the Annual Spring Concert Grease at 7pm at the Harquail Theater on May 20th
MAY 21
Humane Society Pub Quiz
The Humane Society Pub Quiz is Thursday (21 May) at 7pm at Fidel Murphy’s.
John Gray High School Year 11 PTA Meeting
John Gray High School Year 11 parents & students are invited to John Gray’s information meeting concerning the transition to year 12 on Tuesday (21 Apr) at 5.30pm in the school hall
MAY 23
Chill Out for Exam Time
Exam time is approaching and many young students are overwhelmed and anxious. Lifestyles invites you to a chill-out mindfulness-based stretch and relaxation session at the South Sound Community Center on Saturday, May 23rd. – 12:30 – 1:45 pm.
This is a specially designed relaxation session for releasing stressful feelings about exams and creating a relaxed and positive view of exams. A special once-a-year offer at exam time…$5.00 per student. Please let us know if you plan to attend. Drop in at last minute also welcome. Please bring a large beach towel.
MAY 26
Conservation Council Meeting 26 May 2015
The National Conservation Council will hold a general meeting on Tuesday May 26th, 2015, from 2pm to 5pm in the ground floor meeting room (1038) of the Government Administration Building (Grand Cayman). This meeting is open to observers from the public. The Agenda of the meeting is available on the Department of Environment’s website: http://www.doe.ky/conservation-council-meeting-2/
MAY 28
Cayman Islands Facility Management Association meeting
The Cayman Islands Facility Management Association would like to invite you to a regular meeting on May 28 at Camana Bay. Please accept the invite to RSVP for this meeting. Guests are always welcome.
Date: May 28, 2015 Time: 9am-11am
Location: The Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort
Regular Meeting before and networking afterwards
Admission: Free
Daylight Saving Time and a new swimming pool announced by Cayman Islands government
The Cayman Islands Government is proposing to introduce Daylight Saving Time to the Cayman Islands by March next year and has announced t will commence work on a 25-metre swimming pool at the Cayman Brac Bluff Playfield next year.
At least 61 dead in Colombia landslide
AFP From Business Insider
IMAGE: People try to save their belongings after a landslide in Salgar municipality, Antioquia department, Colombia on May 18, 2015 © AFP Raul Arboleda
Salgar (Colombia) (AFP) – A massive landslide tore through a ravine in northwest Colombia Monday before dawn, killing at least 61 people and injuring 37, authorities said.
Most residents were sleeping when the landslide hit the municipality of Salgar around 3:00 am, burying a large area in mud and debris.
The rush of mud and water “tore down everything in its path,” Salgar Mayor Olga Osorio told RCN Radio.
The small town of Santa Margarita was practically “wiped off the map,” she said.
The rescue operation, which was being carried out by 166 first responders, was suspended overnight Monday and will resume again early in the morning.
Aerial images showed a broad river of mud that had inundated a large area, dragging houses and trees along with it.
Residents shoveled out piles of mud in the afternoon, trying to salvage what belongings they could, as dump trucks arrived to begin hauling away the mess.
President Juan Manuel Santos flew over the affected area and met with local officials.
“No one can bring the deceased back to you, that is something we deeply regret. But we have to get through this disaster and look to the future with bravery and strength,” he said.
Several children were orphaned and are being cared for by the Colombian Institute for Family Wellbeing, he said.
For more: http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-at-least-61-dead-in-colombia-landslide-2015-5#ixzz3abTnVZZg
Tyreke Wilsons wins 200m in Cayman Islands
From Jamaica.com
Calabar’s trio of Tyreke Wilson, the winner of the boys 200m in 21.35 ahead of Daniel Bogle 22.15 and Rashaun Connolly 22.35 at the Cayman Invitational #CaymanInvite
For more & video: http://jamaicans.com/videos/?p=26856#ixzz3aXFVNJlR
Jago girls win 4×1 at Cayman Invitational
From Jamaica.com
Jago girls win 4×1 at Cayman Invitational in 46.44 ahead of Cayman Select 47.89 and Mustang A 51.26
For more & video: http://jamaicans.com/videos/?p=26859#ixzz3aXGLgEEI
Shaniel English wins 200m in Cayman
From Jamaica.com
Shaniel English (St. Jago) wins the girls 200m in 24.70 ahead of Shalysa Wray (Mustang) 25.00 and Pearl Morgan (Mustang) 26.99 at the Cayman Invitational on May 16, 2015
For more & video: http://jamaicans.com/videos/?p=26855#ixzz3aXGxCyw0
Jobodwana smashes SA record
From The Citizen
FILE PICTURE: Anaso Jobodwana and Jamaican sprint king Usain Bolt. Picture: Getty Images.
After knocking on the door for the past two years, Anaso Jobodwana produced a breakthrough performance in the Cayman Islands on Saturday evening, smashing the South African 200m record.
The 22-year-old US-based sprinter won the half-lap event at the Cayman Invitational in 20.06 seconds, with 19-year-old Zharnel Hughes of Anguila taking second place in 20.15.
Jobodwana improved the national mark of 20.11 set by Morne Nagel in Germiston in April 2002.
“It felt good, especially when I saw the time flash on the electronic timer,” he said.
Aiming to build on his spectacular early-season form, Jobodwana said he would race again at the Diamond League meeting in Eugene, Oregon, in two weeks’ time.
For more: http://citizen.co.za/384117/jobodwana-smashes-sa-record/
Islamic group hacked Bahamas websites
By Travis Cartwright-Carroll Nassau Guardian Staff Reporter From Caribbean News Now
NASSAU, Bahamas — The Bahamas ministry of tourism said on Friday that several government websites, including its own, were hacked on Wednesday morning by members of a Tunisian Islamist activist group called the Fallaga Team.
In a statement, the ministry said all defaced sections of the hacked websites were quickly removed and “a corrected version redeployed and all affected websites are now back to normal modes of operation”.
“As a short-term strategy and in an abundance of caution, all government websites have been checked for possible breaches, safeguarded and reinforced against potential vulnerabilities by the implementation of software patching,” the statement said.
“As a long-term strategy and being cognizant of the fact that we live in an era where cyberterrorism poses clear and present dangers to our national security, the government of The Bahamas will convene a meeting of industry experts to review the entire government-owned, Internet related infrastructure with a view to determining what, if any, additional measures can be taken to deliver the strongest possible cyber security protocol.
“It is the intent of the government to cause to be established a permanent public/private sector committee that will meet regularly, conduct regular audits of public Internet infrastructure and advise the government on matters of cyber security so as to inform public policy going forward.”
The statement said bahamas.com and bahamasfilm.com were among the websites hacked.
According to its Twitter page, Fallaga Team has hacked Tunisia, Israeli and French websites and has 60 members.
A 19-year-old member of the team told Vice.com in 2013 that their goal is to “spread the word of Islam, to help or Muslim brothers wherever they may be, and to destroy Israel.”
For more: http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/topstory-Islamic-group-hacked-Bahamas-websites-26154.html
Maritime services zone for Cayman Islands approved
From Safety4Sea
Expansion of the shipping market in Cayman
A designated special economic zone for maritime services companies has been approved with the aim of bringing shipping companies and maritime service providers to Cayman.
Cayman Compass [and other local media houses] reports that the Government passed an order in Cabinet setting out the types of companies that are permitted to establish a physical presence in the newly created Cayman Maritime Services Park of Cayman Enterprise City.
The special economic zone allows zone companies to benefit from Cayman’s tax-neutral environment in combination with reduced red tape, lower registration fees and no work permit fees.
The types of companies that can establish a presence in the Maritime Services Park include ship owners, brokers and financiers, freight trading, operations, logistics, vessel management, consulting and research companies operating in the shipping industry.
Cayman already has a renowned shipping registry, sophisticated services providers and superior infrastructure in close proximity to North America, South America and the Panama Canal to make a viable base for maritime services companies, he said.
For more: http://www.safety4sea.com/maritime-services-zone-for-cayman-approved-24150
Rogers set for Ashes farewell
From ESPN CRICINFO
IMAGE: Chris Rogers will turn 38 during the Ashes in England © Getty Images
Chris Rogers, the Australia opener, has confirmed he is set to retire after the Ashes in England this summer. Rogers said finishing his international career in the country where he had played a lot of county cricket would be a fitting end.
“I’m very happy, I’ve been pretty fortunate to have this second go at it and have loved every moment of it, but time calls on everyone and I think it’s nearly up for me,” he told Fox Sports. “I think to go out in the Ashes and in England where I’ve played a lot of cricket is pretty fitting.”
Rogers, 37, had indicated in November, when he was selected for the home series against India, that the Ashes would be his finishing line. Before the Ashes, however, Rogers will travel with the Australian squad to the Caribbean for two Tests against West Indies in June.
He has played 20 Tests for Australia in a career than began in 2008, scoring 1535 runs with four hundreds at an average of 39. He’s played 289 first-class matches for various state sides in Australia and counties in England, making 23,796 at an average of 50.
For more: http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/story/877415.html
Cayman Connection UK Summer Social Event
From Cayman Connection UK
The Cayman Islands Government Office in the UK is hosting the CCUK summer reception with Friends of Cayman and Caymanian students on 05 June 2015 at 6-8:30pm. The event will be a fun, casual networking opportunity for our friends and students and is open to those who have registered with CCUK, so if you are interested in coming along don’t forget to register with CCUK.
Held at Jewel Bar in Piccadilly, the event will showcase the developments of CCUK and give guests an idea of what to expect from CCUK in the coming year, including upcoming events and opportunities. We will also welcome your comments and suggestions.
If you would like to join us for this event, please register below and RSVP to [email protected].
For more: http://caymanconnection.org/ccuk-summer-social-event/
CONCACAF Disciplinary Committee fines, suspends Cuban coach for offensive behavior during competition
Miami (Monday, May 18, 2015) — The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) announced today that its Disciplinary Committee has suspended and fined Raul Valentin, head coach of the Cuban men’s team at the Central American and Caribbean Games in November, for racist behavior during and following a match of that competition played on November 23, 2014.
The coach was fined an undisclosed amount for racial abuse of the referee of the November match disputed between the national teams of Cuba and Venezuela at the XXII Central American and Caribbean games.
During the 83rd minute of the match, Valentin was documented by match officials to have used offensive and racist language toward the referee. At the end of the game, the coach was documented to have continued using the same offensive and racist language.
In addition, Raul Valentin was handed a five match suspension, of which he has already served two matches. The remaining three match suspensions will be served in upcoming friendly matches.
CONCACAF embraces and promotes diversity as a key value of football, by fostering a culture of respect and inclusiveness. The Confederation enforces a strict zero tolerance policy concerning incidents of racist and/or discriminatory behavior.
Last month, the CONCACAF Disciplinary Committee sanctioned the Costa Rican club Liga Deportiva Alajuelense, by levying a fine and a stadium ban for racist behavior by fans during a Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League match disputed earlier this year.
Maples and Calder advises on LATAM Airlines’ first EETC issue
From Hedgeweek
Maples and Calder has advised LATAM Airlines Group on a private offering of two tranches of Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates (EETCs) priced on Thursday, 14 May 2015.
The deal met with such popularity, that it was immediately upsized to an aggregate amount of USD1,020,823,000. Funds raised will be utilised to finance the carrier’s upcoming 2015 and 2016 deliveries, comprised of eleven new Airbus A321-200 aircraft, two new Airbus A350-900 aircraft and four new Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
“Maples and Calder is pleased to have been selected as Cayman Islands counsel to act in connection with this innovative financing by known market leaders,” says Wanda Ebanks, Asset Finance Partner in the law firm’s Cayman Islands office.
Together with Associate, Shari McField, they advised LATAM in connection with the Cayman Islands legal aspects of the transaction, including the lease and financing arrangements in respect of the underlying aircraft to be acquired with the funds raised. MaplesFS Limited also provides directors and corporate administration services to the Cayman Islands entities in the transaction.
“The Maples group continues to be the service provider of choice for complex and unique finance transactions as demonstrated with this deal,” says Mark Western, Partner and Global Head of Asset Finance. “We aim to add value; bringing our depth of market experience to each transaction, as well as our ability to holistically work with our clients. Intrinsic in our mandate is the commitment to provide pragmatic, commercially acceptable and timely advice and support to our clients, across both legal and administrative functions.”
LATAM is the first airline in Latin America to issue EETCs. The private offering consists of Class A and Class B Certificates. Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s rate the two tranches A2 and Baa2, and A- and BBB-, respectively.
Up to four Cayman Islands special purpose vehicles will participate in the transaction.
For more: http://www.hedgeweek.com/2015/05/19/223725/maples-and-calder-advises-latam-airlines-first-eetc-issue
Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce Members urged to update contact information
Members are urged to update your contact information so that you receive regular updates from the Cayman Islands Government for this year’s Atlantic Hurricane season which begins on 1st June.
The first storm, Ana, developed a month before the official start of the season, becoming the first pre-season tropical or subtropical cyclone since 2012’s Beryl, the earliest-forming cyclone since 2003’s Ana, and the second-earliest cyclone on record to strike the United States.
Despite the unusually early start, an ongoing El Nino event was forecast by many organisations to limit tropical cyclone activity in the Caribbean basin throughout the season. That should not give members any false sense of security. Be sure to review and test your hurricane plan this month and to purchase any supplies that you may require.
For further information visit the Cayman Islands National Emergency website http://www.caymanprepared.gov.ky/portal/page?_pageid=3701,1&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
Former Bloomberg correspondent drops pregnancy discrimination suit
By Zoe Tillman, From Legal Times
A former Washington correspondent for Bloomberg has dropped a discrimination and retaliation suit that accused the company of illegally firing her after she took maternity leave.
Megan Hemmerlein sued Bloomberg in February. She claimed she was denied assignments once she became pregnant and was fired in retaliation for taking maternity leave. Last week, she filed papers in District of Columbia Superior Court dismissing the case.
The court papers didn’t include details about how the case resolved. Hemmerlein’s lawyer, R. Scott Oswald of The Employment Law Group, declined to comment, as did a Bloomberg spokeswoman. Bloomberg’s lawyers at Jones Day did not return a request for comment.
Hemmerlein claimed she was denied assignments once she became pregnant last year. In one instance, she said that when she asked to do a story on medical marijuana, she was told it would look “weird” to have a pregnant reporter involved. The piece was assigned to a male reporter.
Hemmerlein was fired once her maternity leave concluded in January, according to her lawsuit. She said she was told she was being let go because Bloomberg was moving political coverage to New York. Hemmerlein argued the company’s explanation was pretextual and that her decision to take maternity leave was a “motivating factor.”
Bloomberg had yet to respond to the allegations in court. After the complaint was filed, Hemmerlein agreed several times to extend Bloomberg’s deadline to file an answer.
Bloomberg previously defeated a pregnancy discrimination lawsuit filed by employees in federal court in New York. Between 2010 and 2014, the judge dismissed the claims against Bloomberg.
Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou to visit Central America, Caribbean Allies
By Adela Lin From Bloomberg
Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou plans to visit allies in Central America and the Caribbean in July in his final year in office.
Ma is scheduled to meet officials in Guatemala, Haiti and Nicaragua, according to a person who has direct knowledge of the matter. He will stop over in Boston and Los Angeles, according to the person.
His administration keeps diplomatic relations with 22 states by adopting a policy of “viable diplomacy” based on the principles of autonomy, dignity, flexibility and pragmatism. Taiwan is economically engaged with its three largest trade partners China, the U.S. and Japan, in lieu of formal political recognition.
China’s government has claimed Taiwan as part of its territory ever since Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalists fled to the island during a civil war with Mao Zedong’s Communists in 1949. Countries, such as the U.S., have largely switched their diplomatic recognition of Chiang’s Republic of China to the People’s Republic of China. The U.S. is mandated by law, under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, to safeguard peace in the Taiwan Strait, which runs between mainland China and Taiwan.
In a briefing Monday ahead of his seventh anniversary as president on May 20, Ma expressed commitments to pursuing regional economic integration.
Taiwan seeks to participate in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank proposed by China, the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement being negotiated by the U.S. and 11 other countries in the Asia Pacific region, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, said Ma, who is serving his second and final term, which ends in May 20, 2016.
Amtrak installs automatic train controls before service resumes
By Billy Steele From engadget
Amtrak Resumes Service On Busy Northeast Corridor After Deadly Train Crash
Following the deadly accident last week near Philadelphia, Amtrak installed a braking system on the section of track that could’ve prevented the derailment. The automatic train control system (ATC) keeps tabs on a train’s speed as it heads toward curves, automatically adjusting it if the conductor fails to do so. ATC was already used for southbound trains in this spot, but not for those headed northbound like the one that derailed last Tuesday. In addition to the ATC, Amtrak is working to equip trains with a Positive Train Control system (PTC) which uses the ATC to further automate trains while avoiding collisions, maintaining safe speeds and providing safer conditions for work crews. Amtrak plans to have the PTC in place by the end of the year. The Federal Rail Administration announced today that Amtrak had completed all of its requirements to resume service along the Northeast Corridor between Washington, DC and Boston, and that the train company would continue to evaluate other curves along the route.
Crayola: Don’t use our colored pencils on your face
By Mary Beth Quirk From Consumerist
In another example of why it’s not a good idea to believe every viral thing you come across on the Internet, Crayola is warning customers not to use its colored pencils as makeup after some beauty bloggers posted tutorials on how to soften the drawing tools and use them as eyeliner.
Though it might be tempting to save a few bucks and head to the art supply aisle instead of the cosmetics area of your local drug store, Crayola is warning against the practice of using its pencils as makeup.
Some bloggers have advised softening colored pencils in water and spreading the color on eyes or lips as they’re non-toxic, but Crayola notes that while its products are safe for use by kids who might say, chew on them, they haven’t been tested for use as makeup.
“As the manufacturer of children’s products, safety is our top priority at Crayola,” the company said on its website. “Although our products are nontoxic, we do not recommend using them to make lipstick, eyeliner or other make-up and strongly discourage their use in this manner. They are not designed, tested or approved for this purpose.
For more: http://consumerist.com/2015/05/18/crayola-dont-use-our-colored-pencils-on-your-face/
9 arrested over spectacular robbery of a Saudi prince in Paris
By Matthew Speiser From Business Insider
On Monday French police arrested 9 people connected to a $300,000 high-stakes robbery on the convoy of a Saudi prince in Paris last August, Radio France International reports.
The tale of the heist is more believable as a Hollywood movie than as a real life event.
Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Fahd’s convoy, full of armed bodyguards, was winding its way through Port de la Chapelle from a plush Paris hotel to an airport in Le Bourget when two black BMWs sped up on the motorcade and forced the lead car to the side of the road.
Out of the BMWs came a gang of “between five and eight” thieves clad in balaclava’s and wielding AK-47’s, AFP reports. They hijacked the lead car — a Mercedes passenger van — which held three aides to the prince, a briefcase with 250,000 in euros, the prince’s medication, and “sensitive diplomatic documents” in a crime that police said had to of involved “inside knowledge.”
At the time of the heist, a police official was quoted by AFP saying “there aren’t that many groups capable of such an attack. We know from the way they acted that they were more than small-time bandits — more so from than the amount of money they stole.”
Nobody was hurt in the attack. The prince himself was apparently already at the airport when his convoy was attacked, RFI notes.
The Mercedes as well as one of the BMWs were later found burnt to a crisp in a suburb 25 miles northeast of Paris, the New York Times reported.
The thieves were celebrated by the public following the attack as modern day Robin Hood’s, AFP said, as the 42-year-old prince has a reputation as a playboy with expensive tastes. He had been wrapping up a two month vacation in the French capital.
Barbados to hHost 1st Caribbean Peering and Interconnection Forum
From Latin American Herald Tribune
SAN JUAN – Barbados is set to host next week the first Caribbean Peering and Interconnection Forum, a two-day gathering of government officials, Internet service providers and other stakeholders.
“CarPIF will provide participants with regional as well as global insights on how the Caribbean can maximize the opportunities that can be derived for greater interconnection and peering,” Bernadette Lewis, secretary-general of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union, said in a statement.
Topics on the agenda for the May 27-28 forum include “national and cross-border interconnection possibilities; strategies for encouraging and increasing local digital content development; and opportunities for content delivery network operators in the Caribbean,” according to the CTU statement.
Representatives from companies such as Google, Netflix and Akami, among others, are scheduled to make presentations at CarPIF, which will take place in a hotel in the Barbadian capital, Bridgetown.
The event is being organized by the CTU and the Caribbean Network Operators Group in conjunction with Packet Clearing House and the Internet Society.
For more: http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2388146&CategoryId=14092
CFDE Press Conference hailed as resounding success
CaribDirect Multi-Media and Fairweather Productions in collaboration with the Black Cultural Archives delivered an informative and inspiring press conference to introduce the Caribbean Food and Drink Conference & Expo 2015 to British media.
On Tuesday 12th May 2015 Caribbean Food and Drink Expo 2015 was delivered to a packed room of print, radio, online and television journalists at the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines High Commission. The event was officially opened by CaribDirect Multi-Media CEO and CFDE director David F. Roberts who outlined the importance of such an event to small and medium sized Caribbean businesses and the British economy.TCTK-Media-XP-CaribDirect-CD-Press-Conference-12-May-2015-_M7R3012
Minister Counselor for the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines High Commission, Mrs Doris Charles, on behalf of High Commissioner Hon. Mr Cenio Lewis delivered a speech which focused on the need and value of Foreign Direct Investment to the Caribbean particularly in the food and beverage sector, and pledged the High Commission’s ongoing support for the efforts on CaribDirect Multi-Media to unite Caribbean communities and stimulate commercial activity among Caribbean entrepreneurs.
From the large turnout of media professionals resulting in standing room only the Caribbean Food and Drink Conference and Expo is on course to attract large numbers of UK based Caribbean nationals and friends wanting to display their cooked and processed foods, drinks and arts and craft items at the Expo in Windrush Square on Sunday 12th July 2015. The event was graced with the presence of Acting High Commissioner for Antigua and Barbuda Mrs Althea Vanderpoole Banahene who came to register her support.
The Caribbean Food and Drink Conference billed for Friday 10th July 2015 at the Holiday Inn Kensington Forum will feature, among other activities, a buyer meet sellers session where established buyers such as Dees Caribbean Imports, TESCO and others will sit with and provide advice on packaging, pricing, branding and so on to manufacturers wanting to access Britain’s major supermarkets. Three of the main speakers on the day were in attendance at the press conference, namely Mrs Elizabeth Mullings-Smith, Mrs Grace Vanterpool and Dr Paul Quantock. Buy tickets HERE: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/caribbean-food-and-drink-conference-cfde-big-talk-2015-tickets-16543367658
FCC fines iHeartCommunications $M in Consent Decree for false EAS tones on Bobby Bones Show
From All Access Music Group
The FCC has thrown the book at iHEARTCOMMUNICATIONS, INC., part of iHEARTMEDIA, fining the company $1 million in a consent decree arising from the airing of false Emergency Alert System tones during BOBBY BONES’ nationally syndicated show on iHEARTMEDIA Country WSIX-F (THE BIG 98)/NASHVILLE. The company has admitted its culpability and has also agreed to institute a three-year compliance and reporting plan and eliminate EAS tones from its production libraries.
The violation occurred on OCTOBER 14th, 2014, when BONES, talking about an EAS test that aired during the WORLD SERIES, played a recording of an earlier test, which was sent to over 70 affiliates and resulted in a “multi-state cascade of false EAS alerts on radios and televisions in multiple states.”
“The public counts on EAS tones to alert them to real emergencies,” said FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief TRAVIS LEBLANC. “Misuse of the emergency alert system jeopardizes the nation’s public safety, falsely alarms the public, and undermines confidence in the emergency alert system.”
The fine is the latest in a string of fines and settlements over the last six months for misuse of EAS tones, including fines against VIACOM, ESPN, UNIVISION, PATHFINDER COMMUNICATIONS, and SM RADIO PRODUCTIONS, totalling almost $2.5 million.
