On April 6th, a webinar monitored by over 225 attendees was conducted featuring Manny Centeno, the Program Manager for the FEMA Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) involvement in the upcoming National EAS Test. The test is to take place later this year, although a date and time was not yet stated. Other outstanding questions that I outlined in my previous AWARE posting on the National EAS Test went unanswered as well, although most of those are for the FCC, not FEMA, to determine. One of the issues I brought up on the webinar is if the EAT (Emergency Action Termination) EAS Code will be used as part of the test. Centeno replied no, the EAT will not be sent. This will limit the on-air interruption to just one rather than two alerts. That was welcome news for broadcasters. Another clarification Centeno made is that the NPR Squawk Channel will be used as part of the test. Many states where there is currently poor Primary Entry Point (PEP) Station coverage use the NPR Squawk Channel to receive the national EAS activation. So this was more good news for broadcasters, and State Emergency Communications Committees (SECCs).

In further detailing the test, it was reiterated that this first National EAS Test will not be testing CAP, the Common Alerting Protocol. However, future EAS-CAP tests were referred to. Significant time was spent outlining the lessons learned from the statewide national-code tests done in Alaska in 2010 and 2011. While the second test went better than the first, FEMA admitted it still has improvements to make in the audio quality and the “dead air” between the EAS codes and the audio announcement. In order to improve the quality, FEMA is in the testing and early deployment stages of satellite delivery of the EAS message to PEP stations. It was also stated that the announcement for the nationwide test will be pre-recorded, which is intended to cure the latter problem. 81% of broadcasters and cable operators ran the 2011 Alaska test, with most problems being station-specific not system wide.

Particular mention was made of the excellent cooperation of Alaska broadcasters, cable operators and state homeland security agencies in outreach and coordination for the test. FEMA and all Alaska groups coordinating the early tests agreed that outreach to broadcasters, cable operators, emergency managers and the public is very important and played a large part in the success of the Alaska tests. There will be a 2-month advance notice given before the first nationwide EAS test, and in that ensuing period FEMA and the FCC plan an extensive outreach effort. Bryan J. Fisher, Chief of Operations for the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, was also a featured speaker on the webinar and he advised that state and local governments must work with broadcasters to conduct a statewide awareness campaign as well. He volunteered his time to any state wanting assistance in this area via conference call or other collaboration.

One of FEMA’s lessons learned is that broadcasters and cable operators need additional training and guidance on EAS device installation, configuration, monitoring, and operation. To that end, FEMA will work with FCC on improving the EAS Handbook as well as develop workshops, bulletins, industry blogs and best practices. In support of that mission, FEMA will be conducting workshops in its booth at the National Association of Broadcasters annual convention April 11-14 (barring a looming government shutdown). Among other Next Steps identified, FEMA stated they will be supporting the FCC on its forthcoming EAS-CAP rule changes, there was a clear pledge to increase training, and a commitment to an extensive public awareness campaign on the national EAS test.

For more information, visit the FEMA IPAWS Website: http://www.fema.gov/emergency/ipaws/
Or email them at: ipaws@fema.gov