PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 TTY 202 / 418-2555 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov DA 11-1857 November 3, 2011 PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU ANNOUNCES UPDATES TO THE NOVEMBER 9, 2011 NATIONWIDE EAS TEST On November 9, 2011, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time1 (EST), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will conduct the first-ever nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS). The purpose of the test is to assess the reliability and effectiveness of the EAS as a way to alert the public of national emergencies. The EAS Third Report and Order, which adopted the rule allowing for nationwide testing of the EAS, delegated authority to the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureau) to determine, in consultation with FEMA and other EAS stakeholders, as appropriate, various operational procedures for implementing national tests of the EAS, including the duration of the test.2 On August 23, 2011, the Bureau released a Public Notice addressing operational procedures for the Nationwide EAS Test, which, among other things, stated that the test would last for “approximately three minutes.”3 On October 26, 2011, the FCC released a Public Notice announcing the availability of a Nationwide EAS Test Handbook (Handbook) providing EAS Participants with operational instructions for the test and which also stated that the test would last for “approximately three minutes.”4 After a careful review of the technical elements of the test, FEMA and the FCC have concluded that a thirty-second test will allow the agencies to effectively assess the reliability and effectiveness of the EAS as a way to alert the public of national emergencies with limited disruption to the public. Today’s public notice supersedes any prior Public Notice, and announces that a revised Handbook reflecting the new thirty second test length has been posted at www.fcc.gov/nationwideeastest. 1 See Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces that First Ever Nationwide Diagnostic Test of the Emergency Alert System Will Occur on November 9, 2011 at 2 PM EST, EB Docket No. 04-296, Public Notice, 26 FCC Rcd 8398 (PSHSB 2011). 2 See Review of the Emergency Alert System, EB Docket No. 04-296, Third Report and Order, 26 FCC Rcd 1460, 1490 ¶ 81 (2011) (Third Report and Order). 3 See Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Provides Additional Information to EAS Participants for the November 9, 2011 Nationwide Test of the Emergency Alert System, EB Docket No. 04-296, Public Notice, 26 FCC Rcd 11461 (PSHSB 2011). 4 See Federal Communications Commission Reminds EAS Participants About November 9, 2011 Nationwide EAS Test, Public Notice, DA 11-1788 (PSHSB rel. Oct. 26, 2011). 2 All EAS Participants, (e.g., broadcasters, cable operators, satellite radio and television service providers, and wireline video service providers)5 should consult and use the updated version of the Handbook. A copy of the Handbook must be located at normal duty positions or EAS equipment locations when an operator is required to be on duty and be immediately available to staff responsible for administering the Nationwide EAS Test. The Handbook supersedes all other EAS Handbooks for the duration of the November 9, 2011 Nationwide EAS Test.6 A copy of the Handbook is attached to this Public Notice as Appendix A. Copies of the Handbook can also be downloaded from the Bureau’s web site at http://www.fcc.gov/nationwideeastest. The Bureau will continue to provide additional information about this first Nationwide EAS Test through the release of further public notices, as necessary. Please also visit the Bureau’s web page (http://www.fcc.gov/nationwideeastest) for additional announcements of significant developments affecting the Nationwide EAS Test for both EAS Participants and the general public. Updated information on this test, including recommended “best practices,” can also be found on FEMA’s “Emergency Alert System (EAS) Community Information Updates and Test Preparations” web page (http://www.fema.gov/emergency/ipaws/eas_info.shtm). For further information regarding this test, contact Tom Beers, Chief, Policy Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, (202) 418-0952; or Gregory Cooke, Associate Chief, Policy Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, (202) 418-2351. -- FCC -- 5 See 47 C.F.R. § 11.2(c). 6 See 47 C.F.R. § 11.15.