The first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) will take place on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at approximately 2 p.m. (EST) . The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will conduct this first annual National EAS Test.

All radio and television stations must participate in the National EAS Test.

The National EAS Test is not a "pass-fail" event for broadcasters; it is only a diagnostic exercise, and FEMA and the FCC intend to use the test results to measure the efficiency of the EAS system.

It is critical that radio and television stations put their best foot forward during the National EAS Test. All radio and television stations should prepare in advance for the test.

NAB has prepared a checklist of important information and guidance to help your station successfully participate in the National EAS Test.

• Check your EAS equipment. Is it functioning properly? Is your station monitoring the right sources for EAS messages and ready to receive and automatically retransmit the National EAS message?
• Spread the Word. The FCC and FEMA have produced public service announcements (PSAs) to increase public awareness of the National EAS Test. All stations should download and air one or more of these PSAs, starting at least one week prior to the test and with increasing frequency as November 9 approaches.

NAB will also make the television PSAs available via satellite feed on Friday, October 14, 2011 at 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. (Eastern). The satellite feed coordinates are:

Satellite: Galaxy 19

Transponder: C15 Analog (97 degrees West)

Uplink Frequency: 6225 H

Downlink Frequency: 4000 V

Stations may also tailor or produce their own PSAs using a sample script.

• EAS Test Handbook. Do not use the FCC-issued EAS Handbook you already have in your station. The FCC is releasing a special version for the November 9 test (available early next week)
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• Television EAS Test Slide. The text crawl that is automatically generated by the live code used to initiate the National EAS Test will not indicate that the November 9 event is only a test. Television stations should instead insert a special visual slide during the National EAS Test or tailor their own visual slide using similar text.
• Reporting. FCC rules require that all radio and TV stations report to the FCC on the results of their participation in the National EAS Test within 45 days. Stations will need to report on whether they received the EAS test message, and from whom, as well as if they rebroadcast it to the public. The FCC is in the process of finalizing an online reporting system (expected to be available next week). All reported test results will remain confidential.
• More Information. Additional information on all of these steps is available on NAB's National EAS Test website and on NAB's home page. Please bookmark this link and check back regularly for updated guidance, including the release of additional PSAs, the FCC's November 9 National EAS Test Handbook and the FCC's National EAS Test online reporting system.

Broadcasters are the backbone of the Emergency Alert System. We are the critical lifeline for many Americans during times of disaster, and given our indispensable role as first informers during emergencies, it is imperative that we work with our federal partners to regularly test the EAS system.

For any questions, please contact NAB's Legal and Regulatory department at (866) 682-0276 or (202) 429-5430.