All EAS Participants are required to register with ETRS and must complete the filing of Form One on or before August 26, 2016.
Is my station required to file?
According to FCC attorney Austin Randazzo: If you have EAS equipment, you need to file.
The FCC says, those who are required to register are analog and digital broadcast stations (AM, FM and low-power FM stations), satellite digital audio radio service providers, as well as Class A TV stations, low-power TV stations, cable systems, DBS providers and wireline video systems.
Entities not required to file include FM broadcast booster stations and FM translator stations that entirely rebroadcast the programming of other local FM broadcast stations. In addition, international broadcast stations are exempt, as are analog and digital broadcast stations that operate as satellites or repeaters of a hub station and rebroadcast 100% of programming of the hub station. The hub stations must have compliant EAS equipment and register in the ETRS database
Not registered yet?
FCC Attorney Randazzo advises to have your State EAS plan at the ready along with a strategy for registering. This means “having a list of the stations you need to file for, and deciding which entity [you] want to file,” he said. “You’ll need your FRN (FCC registration number) when you register, and [to be clear on] which licensee is going to register.”
Not sure of your FRN?
Head to the FCC CORES registration database to look for your password, or call 877-480-3201.
Can I get a waiver?
FCC Attorney Randazo advises: “If you cannot effectively monitor the stations noted in your local EAS plan and you want to monitor someone else, you can file a waiver request with the FCC. We’ll look at [whether a different assignment] would be better, and we will rule on that waiver request promptly.”
To request a waiver
Mail a hard copy to the address below, and email an electronic copy to the email address listed.
Gregory Cooke
Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street SW
Washington, DC 20554
gregory.cooke@fcc.gov
Once a waiver is received, users should log back into the system and indicate on the Form 1 that their station has been granted a waiver.
QUESTIONS?
Watch the full FCC archived ETRS Webinar from FCC Attorney Austin Randazzo (H E R E)
Be Prepared for the 2016 National EAS Test
With the pending national EAS test, and the FCC’s unveiling of the EAS Test Reporting System, the SBE has prepared this summary of dates and actions of which all stations should be aware.
Aug. 26, 2016
Sep 28, 2016, 2:20 p.m. ET
Sep 28, 2016
Nov 14, 2016
NOTE: The Sage Digital ENDEC Software Update is now available get it HERE
