The Federal Communications Commission is reminding broadcasters and other EAS participants of their obligations to comply with the Emergency Alert System rules, including ensuring that alerts are accessible to persons with disabilities. “In reporting on the most recent national level test of the EAS, the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau noted improvements in… read more
The lame duck session of Congress has delivered its first move that could directly impact radio. On a voice vote this week, the House passed the Reliable Emergency Alert Distribution Improvement Act or “READI Act” (H.R. 6096). It would, among other things, require radio and television stations to repeat alerts issued by the president, rather… read more
Users of Sage and DASDEC ENDEC EAS equipment are reminded that a signing certificate used by FEMA to validate CAP alerts will expire on October 28, 2020 at 14:05:29 UTC. Manufacturers have released a firmware update that you must install to permit your ENDEC to continue to receive EAS CAP alerts from FEMA after that date…. read more
Due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency response, FEMA will not conduct a national test of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) this year. FEMA is moving the next national test of the system to 2021 out of consideration for the unusual circumstances and working conditions for those in the broadcast… read more
At the request of MAB’s Dan Kelley, the State of Michigan will not be airing a specially-scripted “Severe Weather Awareness Week” EAS RMT on Wednesday, March 25. This is due to the continuing COVID-19 emergency. It was felt that the language may alarm an already stressed public. In years past, broadcasters participated in a statewide… read more
The Federal Communications Commission has released a public notice (here) reporting the results of the 2019 Nationwide Test of the Emergency Alert System, which took place August 7. The notice indicates that more than 84% of radio broadcasters successfully received the National Periodic Test alert, and then 82.5% of those retransmitted the code, averaging slightly… read more
This is an update to our article published last week in MAB News Briefs, to include information from another manufacturer as well as an FCC release on the required update. Sage, DASDEC and Gorman-Redlich have announced availability of required updates for their EAS boxes, which must be installed by November 8. Sage announced October 30… read more
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN UPDATE: SEE HERE Both Sage and DASDEC have announced availability of required updates for their EAS boxes, which must be installed by November 8. Sage announced October 30 that its long awaited ENDEC update (Rev95) that is necessary for the expiring digital certificate has been cleared for distribution. This is the… read more
Last week’s National Periodic Test (NPT) of the Emergency Alert System drew mixed results from around the country. This was the first test that completely relied on the daisy-chain approach and not IPAWS/Internet delivery of the test. Barry Mishkind’s BDR Newsletter reported: 1. The test did not reach some areas and states. Florida generally missed… read more
By: Larry Wilkins, CPBE, CBNT, AMD Chair, SBE EAS Advisory Group As the 2019 National EAS Test, commonly called the National Periodic Test (NPT), approaches, there are several steps broadcasters should take to ensure they are prepared on August 7. FEMA will transmit the test via the Primary Entry Point (PEP) system. It will not… read more