EAS & WEA Nationwide Tests and Form 396-C Extended Deadline

e-Lerts

September 25, 2023

Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) Nationwide Tests on October 4, 2023

On August 3, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Public Notice announcing Nationwide Tests of the EAS and WEA systems. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in conjunction with the FCC has scheduled the test of the WEA for October 4, 2023, at 2:18 p.m. ETD. FEMA will then transmit the nationwide EAS test at 2:20 p.m. ETD using the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS). If testing cannot be completed at that time, an alternate date has been scheduled for October 11, 2023.

After the tests are performed, all EAS participants must file Form Two reflecting “day of test” data in the FCC’s EAS Test Reporting System (ETRS), on or before October 5, 2023. EAS Participants must then also complete Form Three with the detailed post-test data within ETRS which is due by November 20, 2023. By now all EAS participants should have completed their Form One filing reflecting carrier EAS demographics that was due on February 28, 2023, in the ETRS.

For additional information or questions concerning the EAS and WEA Nationwide Tests please contact Kim Waldvogel or call 301-459-7590.

FCC Form 396-C Cable EEO Deadline Extended to October 2, 2023

The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Media Bureau has extended the 2023 deadline for video/cable TV providers to file FCC Form 396-C, Cable EEO Annual Report, to October 2. The Form must be filed via the EEO filing portal in the Cable Operations and Licensing System (COALS). It also has released the names of those cable operators selected to complete the Supplemental Investigation Sheet (SIS), which requires additional information.

If you have six or more full-time cable employees (those who spend at least 30 hours per week on cable operations), you must file the Form 396-C by the October 2 deadline.

If you have fewer than six full-time cable employees and have in the past filed a Form 396-C to indicate you are under that threshold, no further filing is needed. If you have initiated cable service within the last year and have never filed this form, JSI recommends that you file the form once to establish that you have fewer than six full-time cable employees.

For additional information or questions concerning the FCC Form 396-C, please contact Kim Waldvogel or call 301-459-7590.