Ahead of the December 12 deadline, users of Sage brand EAS equipment now have another 90 days to meet that pending FCC deadline for updating EAS firmware.  Sage previously announced in early November that the update has taken them longer to produce than they had anticipated and that there will be insufficient time for many users to install the update by the deadline.

Sage has yet to announce when the update will be available, but Sage users will now have until March 11, 2024.

Users of EAS products from other vendors such as Digital Alert Systems and Gorman-Redlich still must have the necessary upgrades in place by December 12.

The chief of the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau has issued an order in response to a request from REC Networks and the National Association of Broadcasters.

The FCC noted that Sage serves a significant market share of the market, and it accepted the argument by REC and NAB that “hundreds, if not thousands, of EAS participants must update their firmware by the same deadline” and that multiple broadcasters requesting simultaneous updates to their systems would create a heavy volume of urgent requests, making it impracticable for all participants to comply.

Marvin Walther, Chief Engineer of the Carroll Broadcasting stations in Tawas City contacted the MAB and mentioned that, out of the abundance of caution, he has downloaded and printed the order, saying that "keeping it with your equipment is a great signal to any FCC field inspector that you're on top of things."

Stations may download the order here:  https://www.fcc.gov/document/pshsb-grants-limited-extension-emergency-alert-system-deadline

Your MAB will continue to watch this issue.