An update by SBE EAS Education Committee chair, Scott Mason, CPBE, CBNT
Within the last week, the FCC released the document, “Strengthening the Emergency Alert System (EAS): Lessons Learned from the Nationwide EAS Test.” This is basically the FCC’s report card to the public on the results of the nationwide test, held on November 9, 2011.
The document summarizes the lessons learned from the test and the Bureau’s recommendations for strengthening the EAS. While the overall tone of the document is one of praise, it does point out numerous areas that are not acceptable. The areas included:
- Widespread poor audio quality nationwide
- Lack of a PEP in an area to provide a direct connection to FEMA
- Use of alternatives to PEP-based EAN distribution
- The inability of some EAS participants to either receive or transmit the EAN
- Short test length
- Anomalies in EAS equipment programming and operation
The 19 page document closes with the FCC declaring the test a success, with several areas in need of improvement. It should also be noted that every station was required by the FCC to turn in the results of their test in a specified time frame. The commission did not mention any type of fine structure for those that did not turn in the results; however these fines can still be issued. If you did not submit your results, think of the old saying, “Better late, than never.”
Here is a copy of the FCC report.
Scott Mason CPBE, CBNT is Director of Engineering, West Coast for CBS Radio and is a member of the national SBE Board of Directors.
