EAS Schedule available to public?

[azumanga]

Tonight, while looking at the website of KWVT in Salem, Oregon, I came across a schedule of their EAS tests, through the end of 2008:

http://www.kwvtsalem.com/EAS_Test_Schedule_2006-2008.pdf

First of all -- I didn't even know that there was a schedule -- I thought the times were generated at random on the spot.

Secondly -- Was KWVT allowed to make the info available to the general public? I thought it was "for your eyes only" information for station and emergency officials.

 

[MarcB]

Nope. Here's the one for Connecticut - http://www.ctba.org/emergency/schedule.html

 

[anotherguyTN]

I thought that stations had some control over when the tests were done, as long as they were done in the required period. Nothing irritates me more though than when a test is just done at random right over the top of other programming, which happens on satellite feeds at times. Even though it's still irritating, I'd rather have a test done at some scheduled time that doesn't conflict with whatever is normally on.

Although I just thought that an EAS test interrupting an infomercial wouldn't be so bad. "Don't forget that toll free number is BEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!" ;D

 

[Kent]

I thought that stations had some control over when the tests were done, as long as they were done in the required period. Nothing irritates me more though than when a test is just done at random right over the top of other programming, which happens on satellite feeds at times. Even though it's still irritating, I'd rather have a test done at some scheduled time that doesn't conflict with whatever is normally on.

Stations do have some control as to when the tests are done if you're referring to Required Weekly Tests. Automated stations tend to only do them when a real person is present, for example. The Required Monthly Tests, on the other hand, are not determined by the stations, and their scheduled times are made available as part of the EAS plan. If the EAS plan is made public, and most of them are, you can probably find the schedule. The LP-1 has to send those tests as scheduled so the other stations on the chain (a) know all their equipment is working and (b) know the LP-1 has equipment that works and a staff that knows what it's doing. Having worked at an LP-1, I can tell you those stations are monitored VERY closely by everyone, and everyone knows when/if you make a mistake. They make sure they get a Required Weekly Test from you on weeks that don't have the RMT (at both of the LP's where I've worked, missing a scheduled RWT meant instant termination unless you were sending real alerts at the time it was scheduled). At one of the LP-1's where I worked, I accidentally sent an RMT to Cooper County instead of Cole (pushed the down button on the BURK one too many times!). Talk about angry people! Within 5 minutes of the scheduled test, the hot line lit up like a Christmas tree, and the PD and CE started getting irate calls on their cellphones from other stations in the area! I got read the riot act by the PD, the CE, the OM and the GM over that one!

 

[Radiofreewill]

Stations do have some control as to when the tests are done if you're referring to Required Weekly Tests. Automated stations tend to only do them when a real person is present, for example.

Not necessarily. You can set the EAS to send out the RWT during automated programming. No warning in front of or behind it, just the duck farts interrupting a song* with no explanation.

*Cause God knows you can't interrupt the commercials! Clients paid good money for those slots.