What a great idea.  Our local broadcast stations do a live break for
tornado/thunderstorm warnings or big systems, but just the beeping crawl
for lesser storms.  Our local cable provider used to broadcast the live
announcement from the weather service over their programming; we haven't
had a big storm since they were sold, so I don't know if the new owners
will.  It never came across premium channels, though.
  I will pass along the idea to my brother, who works for a cable
provider in tornado country.

Susan Knoer
University of Louisville

<<< Robert R Baran <[log in to unmask]>  9/ 1  8:38p >>>
Yes you get my vote and support.  I find that some of the most important
information is silently on the screen.
When not in time press "star 69", but they do not say that it cost
money.
At 11:47 AM 9/1/98 -0400, you wrote:
>The following letter is posted to this list at the request of library
>customer John Houck.
>
> Leigh Johnston Myers           *       Tampa Talking Book Library
> Library Services Specialist    *       900 Ashley Drive North
> (813) 273-3609, fax: 273-3641  *       Tampa  Florida  33602-3704
> [log in to unmask]     *       "That All May Read"
>
>
>Dear Friends:
>
>I am writing you as a member of the Florida Council of the Blind
working
>on a project to encourage television stations to come forward by
>broadcasting severe storm warnings on their TV stations not only in
>printed word but also in verbal language.  I need input from various
areas
>throughout the country so that I might persuade the TV stations here in
>Florida to do the above mentioned.
>
>I understand the FCC does not, or cannot mandate that TV stations do
>broadcast storm warnings verbally, but maybe with a little push from
>stations and a little conscience especially since more and more older
and
>handicapped persons as well as people who can't read english might gain
>some precious help from having the storm warnings broadcast verbally.
>
>If you can do this or will look at it please let me know at the address
>below, or call me at: 813.752.0814.
>
>Thank you,
>John W. Houck
>416 Hummingbird Place
>Plant City  FL  33565
>
>