The radio industry is set to resume its participation in the annual testing of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) after a one-year hiatus in 2022. Inside sources at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have revealed that while the date for this year’s national test of the EAS has not yet been finalized, the decision to continue the tradition has been made.
Inside Radio received insider information regarding the resumption of testing, “FEMA in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission, plan to conduct a national test of the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts later this year,” the insider said. “A date will be announced when the test date is confirmed,” they added.
The specific date for the test will be announced once it is confirmed, with previous tests typically taking place in mid- to late-summer.
Last year, FEMA surprised broadcasters by announcing the omission of the EAS test. This intentional break was due to FEMA’s efforts to develop a new survey system that would enhance the monitoring of national tests for both the EAS and WEA. The intended survey would collect feedback from the public regarding their awareness and reception of the alerts, with the information being shared with broadcasters and the wireless industry.
Antwane Johnson, Director of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) program, stated last year that by gaining better insights into the reach of the alerts, FEMA could make improvements to its alert and warning capabilities based on the collected data.
The report on the last national test conducted in 2021 revealed that the test message reached 89.3% of EAS participants, marking an increase from 82.5% in 2019. Among radio stations, the government reported that 88.8% of participating stations successfully received the alert, with 87% able to retransmit it successfully.
Under FCC regulations, participating wireless providers must deliver the alerts to the specified area with minimal over-shoot, typically within a tenth of a mile, wherever technically feasible. Industry estimates suggest that approximately 60% of active smartphones in the United States support the “enhanced geotargeting” functionality required, with the number expected to increase as consumers upgrade to newer devices.