National EAS Test Scheduled for 11/9

[BlueWanderer]

Bush and many other presidents prior to him and Obama scheduled midday press conferences. Why do so many people have a problem with it only because of Obama?

My guess is it's press conference fatigue or something like that with Obama. It does seem like he has been on television a lot more when compared to previous presidents.

 

[visaman]

Bush and many other presidents prior to him and Obama scheduled midday press conferences. Why do so many people have a problem with it only because of Obama?

My guess is it's press conference fatigue or something like that with Obama. It does seem like he has been on television a lot more when compared to previous presidents.

Nixon was on almost every other day. http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=nixon+addresses+the+nation&aq=f

 

[pab]

I have already told my clients to be prepared to take back their audio chain if need be and shown them how to jumper around the various EAS boxes. If this "test" goes off without a problem, I'll be surprised.

This is why we test: to find the problems and fix them.

Remember that the only time the EBS was ever activated at the national level, by mistake in 1971, apparently only WOWO bothered to go into emergency mode.

As as for delaying and relaying, not going to happen. The boxes aren't going to see it as a test but as an actual national-level EAN.

 

[Bengalsfan]

I have already told my clients to be prepared to take back their audio chain if need be and shown them how to jumper around the various EAS boxes. If this "test" goes off without a problem, I'll be surprised.

This is why we test: to find the problems and fix them.

Remember that the only time the EBS was ever activated at the national level, by mistake in 1971, apparently only WOWO bothered to go into emergency mode.

As as for delaying and relaying, not going to happen. The boxes aren't going to see it as a test but as an actual national-level EAN.

We already test. Twice weekly thanks to the weather bureau and monthly. how many more "tests" do we need? The EBS was only activated once by mistake, with our 24/7 news cycle we have now, what are the chances of the EAS every being activated nationally?

 

[azumanga]

Remember that the only time the EBS was ever activated at the national level, by mistake in 1971, apparently only WOWO bothered to go into emergency mode.

Was this also the time when WSNS in Chicago followed the rules and left the air, while all other stations stayed on the air? This was back at the time when all TV stations, as well as non-participating radio stations, must leave the air in event of actual EBS activation.

As as for delaying and relaying, not going to happen. The boxes aren't going to see it as a test but as an actual national-level EAN.

I would also envision all US radio and TV stations and cable networks ceasing programming for about 5 minutes around this time, as all eyes and ears tuned to the airwaves or a cable or satellite signal will be on the EAS.

 

[pab]

Was this also the time when WSNS in Chicago followed the rules and left the air, while all other stations stayed on the air? This was back at the time when all TV stations, as well as non-participating radio stations, must leave the air in event of actual EBS activation.

Yes, same event. My reference to WOWO was a little tongue in cheek. A couple of stations did follow procedure but the overwhelming majority didn't. Bob Sievers at WOWO was kind enough to aircheck the End of the World, so that's why we all remember then in connection with the false alarm.

As as for delaying and relaying, not going to happen. The boxes aren't going to see it as a test but as an actual national-level EAN.

I would also envision all US radio and TV stations and cable networks ceasing programming for about 5 minutes around this time, as all eyes and ears tuned to the airwaves or a cable or satellite signal will be on the EAS.

It was announced back in June, and the date has now been set. 2 PM EST/11 AM PST is far enough away from any important programming (except for those who can't live without five minutes of "The Price Is Right" out West) that it shouldn't be too disruptive. I'd expect to see reruns of daytime programming that day.

 

[ixnay]

It was announced back in June, and the date has now been set. 2 PM EST/11 AM PST is far enough away from any important programming (except for those who can't live without five minutes of "The Price Is Right" out West) that it shouldn't be too disruptive. I'd expect to see reruns of daytime programming that day.

Pab, I don't know about other left coast markets, but per this right coaster's DirecTV grid, Price on KCBS *ends* at 2p ET/11a PT, followed by CBS 2 News at 11:00.

ixnay

 

[kenglish]

I was just thinking.....
Since the Fed's are going to use a "Hot Code" on this one, if NOBODY puts up any graphics or crawls that reassure the public that it's really just a TEST, we could make a really useful test out of it, by seeing how well the cell-phone and broadband infrastructure holds up across America.

For three minutes, just have a picture of the White House, and an "EAS NATIONWIDE EMERGENCY ALERT" logo, and audio that says "A national emergency has been declared. Please stand by for a statement from the President."

Imagine 300-million cell-phone users, all texting, "OMG....WTF!?" at the same time.

Crash and Burn. ;D

 

[Mario500]

I was just thinking.....
Since the Fed's are going to use a "Hot Code" on this one, if NOBODY puts up any graphics or crawls that reassure the public that it's really just a TEST, we could make a really useful test out of it, by seeing how well the cell-phone and broadband infrastructure holds up across America.

For three minutes, just have a picture of the White House, and an "EAS NATIONWIDE EMERGENCY ALERT" logo, and audio that says "A national emergency has been declared. Please stand by for a statement from the President."

Imagine 300-million cell-phone users, all texting, "OMG....WTF!?" at the same time.

Crash and Burn. ;D

If 300 million folks were to send that same message at the same time, it would be sad news for the folks who would never use such language, even in short form.

 

[pab]

I was just thinking.....
Since the Fed's are going to use a "Hot Code" on this one, if NOBODY puts up any graphics or crawls that reassure the public that it's really just a TEST, we could make a really useful test out of it, by seeing how well the cell-phone and broadband infrastructure holds up across America.

The EAN they're using carries an audio message after it. They are going to be looping the audio message "this is only a test." So even if the video says emergency action notification, the audio will say "this is only a test."

When they did the statewide tests that were the precursor for this, they ran PSA's about them in advance. Wonder if any stations will be running announcements to reassure people before the EAN comes down.

 

[fybush]

They will. NAB has created a "tool kit" for stations to use ahead of the test, including PSAs explaining what will be happening, and why.

 

[Markxxx]

I wonder what would qualify as a national emergency? I mean 9-11 came close. Even Pearl Harbor was localized and at best would've only been a threat to the West coast states.

 

[azumanga]

They will. NAB has created a "tool kit" for stations to use ahead of the test, including PSAs explaining what will be happening, and why.

Cable and satellite systems will also notify their subscribers of the test weeks in advance -- last month, Bright House mentioned the test in their usual channel update ad; also, they are mentioning the test in October's cable bill.

 

[azumanga]

I wonder what would qualify as a national emergency? I mean 9-11 came close.

Apparently, it would have to be something that the government knows about, but catches the media off guard -- after all, with so much coverage of 9/11 already given by the networks, EAN activation was not necessary, as almost everyone was already aware of what happened.

 

[MarcB]

Just before 9AM Eastern today I was flipping channels and I saw Public Service Announcement about the National EAS Test in Spanish on Univision 18 WUVN.

 

[pab]

I wonder what would qualify as a national emergency? I mean 9-11 came close.

Apparently, it would have to be something that the government knows about, but catches the media off guard -- after all, with so much coverage of 9/11 already given by the networks, EAN activation was not necessary, as almost everyone was already aware of what happened.

I imagine it would be military in nature. It was designed for nuclear attack, but could also be used to warn of invasion or coordinated terrorist attacks.

 

[azumanga]

The national EAS test has already begun to generate some crackpot theories:

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/conte...-will-seize-dictatorial-power-through-your-tv

 

[PTBoardOp94]

The national EAS test has already begun to generate some crackpot theories:

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/conte...-will-seize-dictatorial-power-through-your-tv

Yup. Heard about that one from some audience members at a mayoral debate last night. I had a moment.

 

[vchimpanzee]

I wonder what would qualify as a national emergency? I mean 9-11 came close. Even Pearl Harbor was localized and at best would've only been a threat to the West coast states.

I wonder why they chose the date 11-9? Because to the British, the disaster happened on 11-9. Coincidence?

 

[landtuna]

I wonder what would qualify as a national emergency? I mean 9-11 came close. Even Pearl Harbor was localized and at best would've only been a threat to the West coast states.

We know now that both 9-11 and Pearl Harbor were not national-scope attacks (although both were acts of war) but at the time it wasn't known.