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Statewide Tornado Drill w/EAS March 20

On Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 1 p.m. Eastern, broadcasters should be prepared for a special EAS RMT promoting Severe Weather Awareness Week (March 17-23).  This is coordinated to air with local communities who have the option of sounding their tornado sirens at the same time.  The 1 p.m. test is promoted as the Statewide Tornado Drill.

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Nationwide EAS Test Set for October 4 – Start Your Preparations Now

David Oxenford

FEMA and the FCC announced that this year’s Nationwide EAS Test is scheduled for October 4, 2023 (with a back-up date of October 11 in case there is a real or threatened event that occurs around October 4).  FEMA will transmit the nationwide test of the EAS at 2:20 pm EDT on October 4, 2023 using the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), the Internet-delivered warning system that has been required for broadcasters for about a dozen years.

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FEMA and FCC Plan Nationwide Emergency Alert Test for October 4, 2023

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FEMA and the FCC announced August 3 that this year’s Nationwide EAS Test is scheduled for October 4, 2023 (with a back-up date of October 11).  FEMA issued this Release about the test.  The FCC issued a Public Notice which includes a list of recommended steps that broadcasters should take to prepare for the alert. 

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EAS Software Upgrade Update

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As a reminder, the FCC has enacted new rules that affect the programming of EAS decoders. All stations are required to install the updated software by December 12th, 2023. Stations should not to wait until the last minute to secure and install the updated software.

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Budget Now for EAS Upgrades

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FCC-mandated changes to the Emergency Alert System are scheduled to go into effect on December 12. These changes may require software and/or hardware updates that broadcasters should budget for now.

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FCC Approves Michigan State EAS Plan

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Michigan’s updated Emergency Alert System plan has been approved by the FCC.  The MAB and State Emergency Communications Committee (SECC) received notice of the approval on December 29.

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FCC Issues Alert on DASDEC EAS Equipment

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On November 23, 2022, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued an Advisory on security vulnerabilities in DASDEC EAS encoder/decoder devices sold by Digital Alert Systems (formerly Monroe Electronics).

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FCC Looks at EAS Rules – Requires That Broadcast Alerts Default to CAP, and Seeks Comments on Securing the System

David Oxenford

At each of the last two of the FCC’s recent regular monthly open meetings, the Commission addressed EAS issues that affect broadcasters. In one case, it adopted new rules that will, among other things, require that broadcasters use on-air the “IPAWS” internet-delivered emergency message in the CAP format, if the broadcaster receives the alert in both the CAP and traditional over-the-air formats.

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Statewide Tornado Drill: Wednesday, March 23

Statewide Tornado Drill graphic

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has declared  March 20-26 to be Michigan’s Severe Weather Awareness Week.  Broadcasters and Emergency Management partners statewide are encouraging Michiganders to conduct a statewide tornado drill at 1 p.m. ET Wednesday, March 23. Broadcaster participation will include a EAS Required Monthly Test at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 23.  As with all…

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