EAS

[bobdavcav]

Hi all,
With impending severe weather in the forecast for my area this afternoon, it has me thinking about this question. How does the EAS system actually work? From what I've been able to gather, the equipment picks up a signal from a primary station and interrupts the regular programming. So, how can the following scenarios be explained?
1. It's July 2012, and I'm in the Spokane market. We have a day of severe thunderstorms, with EAS alerts going off every 10-15 minutes. The last alert of the day, for a storm well to my east into Montana, goes off at about 4:30. I heard it on 96.9, so flip over to co-owned 94.5 and hear the same alert maybe half a second behind. I can't remember the exact timeline, but I eventually land on 96.1, and hear the same alert there a few minutes later.
2. A couple years ago, I'm listening to a baseball game, when with two outs in the bottom of the 9th, an EAS alert goes off alerting of a severe thunderstorm affecting some foothill communities to my southeast. The batter must have fowled off a couple of pitches as the game was still going on when the alert ends. The game ends, and I start tuning around. The station I was listening to is owned by Alpha. I didn't hear anything on the iHeart stations, and the Audacy stations are running the alert as I pass by.
Why wouldn't all stations be carrying the alert at the same time? There are also numerous EAS tests I could cite as examples.

 

[dmargalotti]

The delay in hearing the announcement on different stations can probably be attributed to a built-in delay in the audio chain or from lag time created in how the audio from the studio is routed to the transmitter site. If that audio is fed by internet, there would be a greater delay than if the audio was fed by satellite.

The reason why some stations aired the weather alerts, but others from another company didn't is because stations are not mandated to carry all weather alerts and broadcasters have the ability to filter out alerts that they do not want automatically relayed over their stations.

 

[secondchoice]

At one time I was told the local emergency management folks could "dial up" the local stations if needed. There was much discussion about that and who would pay the phone bill. It's been over a quarter of a century since I messed with an EAS system. It printed out "reports" and we taped them to the transmitter log.

I was on a county emergency planing committee in the early 1980's. All we did was seek grants for equipment. The Sheriff told us he would handle the emergencies.

My current local county emergency service uses tornado sirens, Facebook and reverse 911. I am not sure of the cable system because I am a cord cutter. The Atlanta TV stations usually have weather warnings from the NWS on a banner in the bottom of the screen. The TV weather folks usually read the warning then show it on their radar. We get missing and kidnaped kids mostly after bedtime. The National Weather Service will only break in once on the radio. If you miss it you are out of luck if you are listening to an "un attended" station.

 

[PTBoardOp93]

EAS participation is a complicated subject.

There are only four things a station MUST do:
1. Have a compliant EAS box installed and tuned to the correct primary stations and IPAWS (alerts over Internet Protocol)
2. Keep an appropriate log of EAS activation and message receptions that were not relayed
3. Be able to prove the EAS box has been tested regularly
4. Relay national emergency messages from the President of the United States

Such a national emergency message from the president has never been sent "for real", but there have been a handful of tests under that message code, after President Obama signed the IPAWS Modernization Act in 2015.

You will note that relaying weather alerts is not on the list. Many stations do air weather alerts, but they are not forced to do so.

 

[bobdavcav]

The way I've understood the system to work is that there are certain types of alerts that stations can carry, one of which is weather. Can anyone on this board think of a situation where an alert would go out nationwide? I can't. I would think though that whatever alert goes out would be synchronized across all stations that carry it, and I don't think I've ever heard that happen across stations with different owners. In the second example I gave I could completely understand a delay in the audio chain, as the difference was maybe 30 seconds. If Alpha uses satellites to feed their transmitters and Audacy uses internet, I could understand a 30 second or so delay. Add the HD delay and it makes some sense. In the first example though, the delay was several minutes. Also, one test in particular stands out in my mind. The authorities issued a monthly test, and when it ran, I was in the car with my family and listening to KPLZ. That station goes to commercial break and then airs a message saying that the following is a test of the Emergency Alert System. The test airs, then we flip stations. Somewhere between 5 and 10 minutes later, the car radio now on KJAQ, EAS breaks into regular programming with the same test. If iHeart Seattle's equipment is tuned to KPLZ, or more likely then KOMO, wouldn't the test have had to air as soon as it is received?

 

[PTBoardOp93]

The way I've understood the system to work is that there are certain types of alerts that stations can carry, one of which is weather. Can anyone on this board think of a situation where an alert would go out nationwide? I can't.

Only the presidential alert, and the National Periodic Test would go out nationally.

I would think though that whatever alert goes out would be synchronized across all stations that carry it,

That would not usually be the case. EAS is at its core a daisy chain system. That means that Station 2 can't start transmitting until it receives an alert from Station 1, and Station 3 can't begin transmitting until it receives from Station 2.

It's got an extra layer now with IPAWS, as I mentioned in my prior reply. With IPAWS, in theory all stations can receive an alert at approximately the same time.

However, most (probably all) modern EAS boxes have the option to hold messages so as to not interrupt programming. For example, the SAGE Digital Endec allows me to put incoming alerts on hold so the DJ can activate it at the end of the current song or commercial break, or automatically after a timeout. The SAGE also has a relay inputs and output, so the playout of alerts can be controlled by computer automation to nicely flow into the programming.

Remember that transmitting weather alerts is optional, so delaying playout by a minute or two is very much within the spirit of the rules.

Also, one test in particular stands out in my mind. The authorities issued a monthly test, and when it ran, I was in the car with my family and listening to KPLZ. That station goes to commercial break and then airs a message saying that the following is a test of the Emergency Alert System. The test airs, then we flip stations. Somewhere between 5 and 10 minutes later, the car radio now on KJAQ, EAS breaks into regular programming with the same test. If iHeart Seattle's equipment is tuned to KPLZ, or more likely then KOMO, wouldn't the test have had to air as soon as it is received?

No. Monthly tests may be delayed at the convenience of the station. Quoting From FCC rules, 47 CFR 11.61:

These monthly tests must be transmitted within 60 minutes of receipt by EAS Participants in an EAS Local Area or State

The only message that cannot be delayed is the Emergency Action Notification, the formal name of the presidential alert I referenced yesterday.

 

[KD4YQR]

The EAS on WHAS 840 in Louisville has not been functioning for sometime now.
We have a couple of rounds of severe weather and even with severe thunderstorm warnings being issued for Jefferson county (the country where Louisville is located) nothing.
WHAS is a Primary Entry Point station ( I believe) so something's amiss here.
Yet I tuned to WAKY 103.5 and the warnings were issued for all the surrounding metro Louisville area.

 

[Theater of My Mind]

There are only four things a station MUST do:
...
4. Relay national emergency messages from the President of the United States

Such a national emergency message from the president has never been sent "for real"

Ugh. Wait until the current occupant of the White House finds out about this.

 

[bigdonho]

The EAS system has devolved into a mess. There are alerts for just about everything like police action in a certain area that you you should avoid, avalanche warnings, lost dog alerts (just kidding on that one.) Here in Florida the state plan lists primary stations that have been gone for several years. I have tried to call and email the Florida Association of Broadcasters who handles the EAS plan for the state numerous times with no response.

One station that I know of delays alerts until they are in a spot break. Not real helpful if a tornado warning comes in at the beginning of a 20 minute music sweep. I mean, lordy, we don't want to tell people they should take cover in the middle of Hootie and the Blowfish.

Remember, a giraffe is a horse designed by a committee.

 

[PTBoardOp93]

The EAS system has devolved into a mess. There are alerts for just about everything like police action in a certain area that you you should avoid, avalanche warnings, lost dog alerts (just kidding on that one.)

Civil emergencies are an EAS code that can be used, but they seem to be extremely rare. As far as I can tell, it is mostly only used in evacuation scenarios, like a chemical plant spewing chlorine gas or whatever. "A police action that you should avoid" would be a new one for me. There's of course thousands of officials who can issue such emergencies, so I'm not saying it hasn't happened, but one bad apple doesn't ruin the peck.

Here in Florida the state plan lists primary stations that have been gone for several years. I have tried to call and email the Florida Association of Broadcasters who handles the EAS plan for the state numerous times with no response.

A little name and shame, please. Normally local primary stations are not the sort of marginal AM facilities that can fold at a moment's notice, so it would be interesting to learn who those stations are and how such a station came to be in the EAS plan.

The EAS on WHAS 840 in Louisville has not been functioning for sometime now.

Really doubtful on that. iHeart generally takes care of engineering problems in a prompt manner.

 

[bigdonho]

A little name and shame, please. Normally local primary stations are not the sort of marginal AM facilities that can fold at a moment's notice, so it would be interesting to learn who those stations are and how such a station came to be in the EAS plan.

It's not so much the continued listing of the station (WFFG in Marathon) as it is the inaction for at least a couple of years by the folks who write the plan. But again, this is Florida.

 

[valvashon]

The way I've understood the system to work is that there are certain types of alerts that stations can carry, one of which is weather. Can anyone on this board think of a situation where an alert would go out nationwide? I can't. I would think though that whatever alert goes out would be synchronized across all stations that carry it, and I don't think I've ever heard that happen across stations with different owners. In the second example I gave I could completely understand a delay in the audio chain, as the difference was maybe 30 seconds. If Alpha uses satellites to feed their transmitters and Audacy uses internet, I could understand a 30 second or so delay. Add the HD delay and it makes some sense. In the first example though, the delay was several minutes. Also, one test in particular stands out in my mind. The authorities issued a monthly test, and when it ran, I was in the car with my family and listening to KPLZ. That station goes to commercial break and then airs a message saying that the following is a test of the Emergency Alert System. The test airs, then we flip stations. Somewhere between 5 and 10 minutes later, the car radio now on KJAQ, EAS breaks into regular programming with the same test. If iHeart Seattle's equipment is tuned to KPLZ, or more likely then KOMO, wouldn't the test have had to air as soon as it is received?

No station in the Puget Sound area is monitoring KPLZ or KOMO with their EAS equipment. The PEP (Primary Entry Point) station is KIRO-AM 710. Stations may also monitor LP (Local Primary) stations KNKX (88.5), KIRO-FM (97.3) or KVTI (90.9). Most EAS participants also monitor their local NOAA weather radio station. Stations may also monitor the SRN (State Radio Network) at 155.475 or the LRN (Local Radio Network) at 450.0875.

Any station monitoring KPLZ or KOMO would be out of compliance regarding the Washington State EAS plan.

 

[bobdavcav]

Val,
Thanks for that information. I just assumed the primary was KOMO since it's the all news station for the market. I'm assuming then that when EAS breaks into programming, it's because the delay has elapsed or the equipment is not configured with one? Particularly with tests, I'm still having a hard time figuring out why one station has an announcement before a test while another just breaks into regular programming.

 

[KD4YQR]

Civil emergencies are an EAS code that can be used, but they seem to be extremely rare. As far as I can tell, it is mostly only used in evacuation scenarios, like a chemical plant spewing chlorine gas or whatever. "A police action that you should avoid" would be a new one for me. There's of course thousands of officials who can issue such emergencies, so I'm not saying it hasn't happened, but one bad apple doesn't ruin the peck.


A little name and shame, please. Normally local primary stations are not the sort of marginal AM facilities that can fold at a moment's notice, so it would be interesting to learn who those stations are and how such a station came to be in the EAS plan.


Really doubtful on that. iHeart generally takes care of engineering problems in a prompt manner.

Well WHAS is a local for me and I listen to it quite a bit, especially during severe weather events.
Our last severe weather outbreak, I had WLKY on (their TV partner) and the screen was lit up with warning boxes but no warnings issued on WHAS. I'm not Radio Pro, just a listener observation.

 

[Cold Coffee]

Sometimes a station does the tornado warning live in the studio and doesn't send it via EAS. That's why we monitor the National Weather Service on input three of the Sage Endec.

 

[davideduardo]

Val,
Thanks for that information. I just assumed the primary was KOMO since it's the all news station for the market.

The format of a station does not really determine if a station is primary or not. The EAS notifications and alerts are not created at any station; the stations are the medium but government / civil authorities are the originator. Stations are theoretically picked for their coverage area and, often, hardened facilities.

I'm assuming then that when EAS breaks into programming, it's because the delay has elapsed or the equipment is not configured with one? Particularly with tests, I'm still having a hard time figuring out why one station has an announcement before a test while another just breaks into regular programming.

A lot has to do with how station management has set internal protocols, particularly if the station is not a primary EAS facility. Some may say, "just put it on" while others will delay to a break in programming and others may even have an "intro" recorded that the person on the air can play. In many cases today, it depends on how the automation system is set up.

 

[davideduardo]

Well WHAS is a local for me and I listen to it quite a bit, especially during severe weather events.
Our last severe weather outbreak, I had WLKY on (their TV partner) and the screen was lit up with warning boxes but no warnings issued on WHAS. I'm not Radio Pro, just a listener observation.

Again, remember that WHAS only has to run what the EAS system sends them. If they are not actively tracking a storm "in house", then the only messages might be the externally generated EAS alerts.

 

[PTBoardOp93]

Particularly with tests, I'm still having a hard time figuring out why one station has an announcement before a test while another just breaks into regular programming.

There is no rule from the FCC requiring announcing a test, so it's down to individual station policy.

 

[pclover]

You will note that relaying weather alerts is not on the list. Many stations do air weather alerts, but they are not forced to do so.

That's really horribly policy. It appears some states have laws that force this.

I did read this

Per federal law, the only alerts you are required to send are RWTs, RMTs, and presidential messages.

 

[davideduardo]

That's really horribly policy. It appears some states have laws that force this.

I was not aware of this. Which states, and what is the specific requirement?

I know that locally, in the Palm Springs, CA, MSA most if not all stations have stopped running weather alert as they were incessantly "activated" by alerts for areas as far off as the Arizona border or the High Desert up to Barstow, all of which are irrelevant here and tended to both frighten people and then make them ignore valid alerts.