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
Although the MAB has advised its members in Michigan, FEMA and the FCC issued a joint release on July 24, regarding the nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 2:20 p.m. Eastern Time. The nationwide test will be sent to radio and television stations through FEMA’s Integrated Public… read more
Sage has released firmware version 89-34 for its line of ENDECs. This free update addresses a changed requirement in the FCC EAS rules, Part 11.33(a)(10), which affects how the valid time frame of an alert is determined. This rule change takes effect on August 12, 2019. The ENDEC currently employs a slightly different method of… read more
With the Nationwide EAS Test scheduled for August 7, 2019, State EAS/SECC Chairman Gary Blievernicht has announced that all scheduled regional Required Monthly Tests (RMTs) scheduled for the month of August should be cancelled. 47 CFR 11.61(3)(ii) states, “A national test shall replace the required weekly and monthly tests for all EAS participants … in… read more