Before the tone sounds on a coast-to-coast Emergency Alert System test, the FCC is asking stations to make sure their equipment can hear it. A Bureau reminder covers firmware updates, state plan monitoring, and what to file once the test is over.
The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau released the reminder Wednesday. FEMA will transmit the nationwide test through the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System at 2:20p ET on November 17, with December 3 as the backup date. EAS Participants must file ETRS Form Two on or before November 19 and ETRS Form Three on or before January 4, 2027.
The Bureau urges participants to upgrade EAS equipment software and firmware to the most recent version and confirm the gear can receive and process the National Periodic Test code and the “six zeroes” national location code. Participants should also review their State EAS Plans for monitoring assignments and make sure equipment is configured to monitor those sources.
Any participant that updates software or replaces equipment after filing ETRS Form One must update that filing to reflect what it will use on test day. Filers can do so through the “My Filings” menu in ETRS.
Feedback on the test can be submitted through the “Alerting Test Feedback” form on the FCC’s Public Safety Support Center page.
