V A - E A S . O R G Emergency Alert System

On November 9, the FCC and FEMA will conduct a nationwide live test of the EAS, using the EAN code. This test will utilize the existing state relay systems - not changes to your monitoring assignments should be made. As stated by the FCC: "The test is diagnostic in nature and is intended to allow the FCC and FEMA to determine how well the nationwide EAS works and to make improvements if necessary."

A few things to keep in mind:

Each station will need to report the results of this test to the FCC, by letter or optionally on-line.
The FCC EAS HANDBOOK - at the EAS equipment position(s) will need to be replaced with a special handbook for that day only.
The FCC has ordered that this test SHALL replace the RWT for that week, and the RMT for November.
If you have installed a NEW SAGE DIGITAL ENDEC, you might check their service memo concerning audio levels.
As this is shortly after the time change, you had better make sure you clock is properly set to reflect EST, not EDT.

Here are some resources you may wish to review:

Directory of info from FCC
Public Notice concerning test
EAS Handbook
On-Line (optional) reporting
Third Report and Order See Paragraph 54 for mandatory reporting info
Good supplimentary info.

Next Generation EAS

FCC TAKES ACTION TO EXTEND DEADLINE FOR BROADCASTERS AND OTHER EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM PARTICIPANTS TO COMPLY WITH TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR NEXT-GENERATION EMERGENCY ALERTS

Washington D.C. - The Federal Communications Commission recently took action to extend the deadline for broadcasters, cable companies, satellite radio and television operators, and wireline video service providers to implement the new federal common messaging protocol adopted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the transmission of next generation emergency alerts and warnings to the public.

In 2007, the FCC required all Emergency Alert System (EAS) participants to have the capability to receive Common Alerting Protocol (CAP)-formatted EAS messages within 180 days of FEMA's adoption of a CAP standard (i.e., March 29, 2011). The new deadline for all EAS participants to implement the new technology has been extended AGAIN to June 12, 2012.

Daylight Savings Time Issues

As you may well know, our Federal Government made a change to the DST schedule without considering the full ramifications thereof. Stations should be aware of the problems created by this change concerning EAS eqiupment. More.

AMBER ALERTS

There may be many components to local AMBER ALERT PLANS, some unique to the individual locality.
Many components do not involve broadcasters and are not discussed here.

1. The AMBER alert EAS activation request MUST be routed by the appropriate law enforcement agencies to the Virginia State Police (VSP). VSP will evaluate the request using the attached criteria and flowchart from the state AMBER plan.

2. VSP will initiate any EAS activation. Initially, such activations will be made with a statewide location code (051000) and will be broadcast statewide by NOAA weather radio to the LP stations (WQPO and WMRA) for rebroadcast. As resources permit, a more targeted system will be developed.

3. Receipt of an AMBER alert via EAS is a cue to individual stations to monitor their fax machines OR GO TO THE STATE AMBER website for supplemental information. The fax broadcasts will come from VSP. Local agencies may, as always, issue press information to broadcast outlets, and are encouraged to do so.

Stations should closely monitor the Virginia AMBER website and their fax machines for the duration of the event, There will be NO EAS activations for additional information or cancellations. The Virginia AMBER website will include photos when available for television station use. A link to this website is now posted on the VA EAS WEBSITE navigation bar.

4. Stations are encouraged to broadcast once the EAS activation (LP stations will broadcast these alerts). Additional information may be broadcast by stations just as they would any late-breaking news story. Participation in AMBER is completely voluntary; stations operating unattended will likely be able to only broadcast the original EAS activation (automatic relay).

The purpose of the EAS activation is to notify stations that there is such an event occurring in a rapid manner, and to serve as authentication for the fax messages to follow. Stations are not expected to transcribe or record the original AMBER message from the EAS broadcast.

5. Additional announcements may be made by the stations as they deem appropriate. The suggested schedule, as contained in the state AMBER plan, is this:

At least every 15 minutes for the first two hours
Every 30 minutes for the next three hours.
After five hours, hourly updates for the next 7 hours or as appropriate

6. Supplemental information via facsimile will be targeted only at the region of concern, even though the EAS alert will be distributed statewide. Therefore, if you do not receive any information via fax, or cannot find any information on the Virginia AMBER website you may in fact not have anything to broadcast. Disregard the event.

7. Stations monitoring the EAS activation may delete the event if it does not seem applicable. For Example, an abduction in Tidewater is of no concern to Winchester stations until such time as law enforcement may believe the victim has been transported to that area. LP stations will rebroadcast ALL AMBER EAS alerts using the CAE code.

8. Stations are reminded that EAS activations contrary to the State and Local Area plans may be considered "false or deceptive EAS transmissions" as per 47 CFR 11.45. ALL AMBER ACTIVATIONS MUST ORIGINATE WITH THE VIRGINIA STATE POLICE.

9. Further information is available on the web.

State EAS Plan
State Amber Website current alert info
State Amber Plan
Missing Children

Participating Stations are encouraged to place the AMBER logo on their station website with a link to the Virginia AMBER website. This will make it easy for your announcers to quickly obtain AMBER information and will identify your station to the public as an AMBER station. If a photograph is available you can point your listeners to this link.

Download the AMBER logo here.
You may wish to link this logo to www.vaamberalert.com

ALTERNATE PEP EAN ALERTS

NPR, in cooperation with the FCC's Emergency Alert Advisory Committee, has established an alternate source for National Level EAN notifications. NPR stations who monitor the analog "squawk channel" can input this source into their EAS equipment and provide a valuable service. More.

How the state relay system works

Click here to view the animated State Relay Network map to see how it is supposed to work.