National Emergency Alert System Test Announced

The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau announced the next nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) will be on September 28, 2016.  All Cable TV providers, broadcast radio and broadcast TV operators must participate in the national test.  For the first time it will be mandatory to report the results of the test to on the new electronic EAS Test Reporting System (ETRS) (see JSI’s June 29 e-Lert for more details on the ETRS).

Compliance dates are as follows:

  • By August 26, 2016 – Register in the ETRS system and submit Form One
  • Until September 26, 2016 – Make any corrections to Form One
  • September 28, 2016, 2:20 p.m. EDT – National Test of the EAS
  • After the National Test, but before September 28, 2016, 11:59 p.m. EDT – Deadline for submitting Form Two in ETRS
  • By November 14, 2016 – Deadline for submitting ETRS Form Three

Companies should begin to register in the system now. Company personnel should be reviewing their state plans to verify any changes in monitory, check to ensure the national code “000000” will be transmitted through their system, have the EAS Handbook at the operator’s station or EAS equipment location, and ensure EAS equipment clocks are synchronizing to the official time provided by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

JSI is presenting a webinar today at 2 p.m. Eastern on the ETRS system, as well as on the FCC’s new Online Public File System.  A recording will be available if you are not able to attend this afternoon. More information on the webinar can be found on our website.

If you have any questions on the National EAS Test please contact Valerie Wimer in JSI’s Maryland office at 301-459-7590.

Source: JSI e-Lert