On Wednesday, October 4, 2023, broadcasters and wireless carriers participated in another National Program Test of the EAS and WEA systems, alerting the public in a variety of ways. Initial reports are that this nationwide test was rather successful! Past tests have been plagued with audio problems for broadcasters, but this test primarily utilized the CAP Server system, delivering clean audio to most broadcasters for retransmission. Chris Tarr serves on Wisconsin’s State Emergency Communications Committee (SECC) and brings useful insight into this recent test. Plus we’re talking about fiber-delivered Internet service and its much wider availability. Plus, thinking creatively about siting FM translators or STL hop locations by looking for lesser-used towers or those not currently associated with broadcast functions.
Show notes
- State Emergency Communications Committee Resources (SECC)
- Easy read from REC Networks: REC LPFM Advisory Letter #16 – EAS CAP Polling requirement for radio – deadline December 12, 2023
- Emergency Alert System – New Rules and Many Changes by Telecommunications Law Professionals
- Chris mentioned “ETRS” – here’s the landing page for the EAS Test Reporting System
- Cavell, Mertz & Associates, Inc. has combined the FCCInfo.com databases with the extensive mapping capabilities of Google Earth. Here’s what you need to know to use it.
- Chris and Kirk mentioned Christen Roberts and Dan Merwin as reliable resources for finding broadband Internet for broadcast facilities.
Hosts
Chris Tarr – Group Director of Engineering at Magnum.Media
Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, & South Seas Broadcasting
Follow Kirk on Twitter – @kharnack
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