Engineering, ABIP & EAS
NAB Says The EAS Future Lies With Software, Not Hardware
Both RadioInk and InsideRadio reported this week on conversations between the National Association of Broadcasters and the FCC regarding the future of EAS equipment, an issue that is growing in importance with the recent announcement from Sage Alerting Systems that it will not longer manufacture its current version of its EAS hardware.
Read MoreTake Five: Five Takeaways from the Midwest Broadcast and Multimedia Technology Conference
Last week, broadcasters from Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, and Pennsylvania gathered in Columbus, Ohio for the Midwest Broadcast and Multimedia Technology Conference (MMBTC). Thanks to the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, engineers of member stations were able to attend the conference for free. For those who were not able to attend, here are a few takeaways from the conference and reasons why you should mark your calendars for next year’s event.
Read MoreFCC Releases October 2023 National EAS Test Report
The test message was received by 96.6% of EAS Participants (increase from 89.3% in 2021). The overall retransmission success rate was 93.6% (increase from 87.1% in 2021).
Read MoreFCC Proposes New EAS Event Code and Adding 13 Additional Languages to Alerts
In the past week, the FCC has proposed some updates to the current EAS system. On Wednesday (2/21), Radio World reported that FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel is proposing adding a new event code to the EAS system for missing and endangered persons. This would be those who would not qualify for an Amber Alert.
Read MoreDeadline Extension Granted for Sage EAS Users
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.
Read MoreNational EAS Test Successful in Michigan and Nationwide
This past Wednesday’s (10/4) nationwide tests of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts appear to be a success both in Michigan and across the nation. The EAS test this year was conducted using the Internet IPAWS CAP feed to EAS units located in each EAS participant’s facility.
Read MoreNationwide EAS Test Set for October 4 – Start Your Preparations Now
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.
Read MoreEAS Software Upgrade Update
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.
Read MoreFCC Grants Waiver of Certain Accessible Emergency Information Requirements
On May 26, 2023, the FCC released an order to extend for 18 months an existing waiver of the requirement that television broadcasters aurally describe visual but non-textual emergency information, such as maps or other graphic displays.
Read MoreSBE & Ennes Educational Foundation Trust Offering Scholarship Opportunities
As an organization involved in the broadcast industry, you very likely know someone who would be interested in applying for one of these scholarships. You’re invited to share the information about the Ennes Scholarships with them.
Read More